Exploring Lake Constance and Mainau in Baden-Württemberg with Nobel Laureates

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I am still buzzing after attending the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting closing event hosted by the forward-thinking German state of Baden-Württemburg. I know I am not the only one, as I overheard, “That was the best boat ride I’ve ever taken in my life. Period!” from one scientist as they left the boat begrudgingly. I couldn’t agree more!

Now, you might be asking why I am on a boat full of scientists in a little corner of Germany. Well, I was invited to the closing party of the Nobel Laureate Meeting in one of my favorite German States, and it was a day to remember.

Our sun-filled day was spent cruising Lake Constance and exploring the Island of Mainau with Nobel Laureates and young scientists from around the world. It was the perfect end to a week-long event focused on exchanging ideas and discussing the future of science in a relaxed environment. As we explored Lake Constance aboard the cutting-edge MS Sonnenkönigen, I would catch pieces of conversation as people enthusiastically talked about science.

“This is where world-changing ideas will happen,” I thought to myself as I looked out at the vineyards and charming villages lining the shores of Baden-Württemberg, the state where Albert Einstein was born and which fittingly dedicates 4.9% of its GDP towards research and development.

I want to thank Baden-Württemberg for inviting me to this event, but all views are my own. I am so grateful for the opportunity to experience this beautiful part of Germany with such inspiring people. Baden-Württemberg is one of my favorite places in the country, and the event left me hopeful for our future.

What are the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings?

Every year, dozens of Nobel Laureates (those that have won the Nobel Prize, science’s most prestigious award) gather with the future generation of undergraduates, Ph.D. students, and post-doc researchers from more than 80 countries for a week-long event to share information and knowledge. The Lindau Meetings cover scientific breakthroughs in Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, and occasionally Economics.

The event is informal by design, allowing for the free exchange of scientific knowledge between cultures, generations, and genders to solve some of the Earth’s biggest questions. Dialogue happens in various ways, including lectures, panels, lunch with the Laureates, science walks, Master Classes that allow young scientists to receive feedback on their work, and poster sessions for 30 students to showcase their most promising work. Awards for the event are handed out at the closing ceremony on Lake Constance.

When I asked many of the up-and-coming young scientists what their favorite part of the event was, they almost always said that it was the ability to have a personal connection with the world’s leading scientists.

For example, several female scientists I talked to said that having lunch or dinner with Laureate Donna Strickland was a highlight for them.

Donna Strickland isn’t just inspiring to the women at the event. Her name came up dozens of times, as nearly everyone I talked to mentioned interaction with Strickland as a highlight. Whenever I spotted her on the boat or around Mainau, she had a trail of eager students lingering behind her.

Strickland, a Canadian Physisit, won the Nobel Prize in 2018 for creating ultrashort high-intensity laser pulses without destroying the amplifying material. However, today, I noticed she was renowned for her powerful ability to inspire the next generation of scientists.

She wasn’t the only Laureate who was always surrounded by a group of younger scientists, reflecting that the relationships created in Lindau were intimate and meaningful.

The Closing Event: Cruising Lake Constance with Baden Württemberg 

The Morning Cruise 

Everyone had a lot to process and digest after an exciting week at the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings—and what better way than by letting loose and recounting all the great panels, discussions, and connections made while on a gorgeous boat cruising Lake Constance?

We boarded the MS Sonnenkönigen bright and early in the morning, welcomed by a smiling Stag and Griffin, the mascots of Baden-Württemberg. Eyes widened with delight as scientists explored all four decks of the decadent boat with glass panels reflecting the shimmering water.

At the top was a glorious sun deck where everyone could breathe the fresh morning air from the misty lake. As I began to wander the boat myself, it was immediately apparent that this event did bring together ideas from around the world and across cultures. Looking at all the diverse faces, I felt a glimmer of hope that the future would see great scientific minds rise to combat global challenges, regardless of border, culture, age, or gender.

I shuffled into the group, worried that I, a writer with a passion for science, would find myself out of my league. Being among so many great minds, I was a bit star-struck, but everyone was so excited to talk about their work that striking up a conversation was easy.

At one point, I sat on the sundeck and spoke to a gentleman soaking up the sun beside me. He shared information about his work in Black Holes, and I said, “You must have been so excited when they finally captured an image of a Black Hole!”

He said, “Oh, yeah, that was the team I worked with, so naturally, I was pretty excited!”

And, just like that, I met Ziri Younsi, an astrophysicist at the University College London, who worked on a project that made global mainstream news! We also had the chance to discuss Dr. Katie Bouman’s role in writing the algorithm that allowed the image to be processed.

As I continued to chat with young scientists, I noticed one thing was missing: the Nobel Laureates. No sooner than I realized they were missing, our boat docked near a beautiful lakeside hotel where all the Laureates were staying.

As we docked, I was in the middle of talking to a scientist from Belarus, and I asked him if it was exciting to see the Laureates; he shrugged it off and said, “Not really,” but then excitedly pulled me over to the edge of the boat to cheer and wave as the Laureates boarded. The ability to interact with Nobel Prize winners had made a profound impact on every person on the ship.

I could also easily approach and talk to Nobel Laureates like Joachim Frank, a German-American biophysicist at Columbia University. He was happy to be back in Germany, connecting with scientists worldwide.

He said, “When I was younger, I always felt like Nobel Laureates were unattainable or unapproachable. So, it feels good to be here connecting with students. I chose to come to Lindau because it brings people together, and you can get students more interested in science.”

When asked how winning a Nobel Prize had impacted his career, he observed that it had pushed him to do even more: “It made me more adventurous, encouraged and motivated me to explore methods beyond.”

I found this insight very refreshing. Even after winning a Nobel Prize in 2017 for his work on developing an effective method for generating three-dimensional images of the molecules of life, he maintains the drive to further his research and help the next generation on their journey.

As we sailed over the vast, bustling waters of Lake Constance, moments like this happened for me and everyone on the boat.

We had to take a break from our deep conversations to eat the breakfast of Baden-Württemberg—pretzels, of course! The Pretzel is one of the many life-changing inventions from Baden-Württemberg, along with the wall plug and automobile.

While we munched on our pretzels, the winners of the poster sessions were announced on center stage. There were five winners total, with the first-place award going to An Pan from the Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics.

We set a course for the Island of Mainau. As we sailed, the students and researchers learned about the various research opportunities in Baden-Württemberg. Seventy-five universities and research centers that receive more funding than anywhere in the EU made their pitch to students.

I talked to one aspiring scientist, Akorede Kalejaiye, who was finishing his bachelor’s at the University of Ilorin in Nigeria. He said he was hoping to find a European university where he could continue his studies. Whenever I spotted him, he was in front of an exhibit, deep in conversation, carefully calculating his next steps as a promising scientist.

Mainau Island

When we docked on the Island of Mainau, it was hard to know where to look. The lush island is home to many attractions, like a castle, a church, vineyards, a butterfly house, botanical gardens, waterfalls, and swimming areas, encompassing the best that Baden-Württemberg offers.

But, we had a singular destination in mind: the castle courtyard for the final Nobel Laureate Meetings panel discussion.

Before the panel, a discussion between Tawakkol Karman, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and Adam Smith, the CSO of Nobel Media, took place that moved the crowd to tears. Karman won the Peace Prize for advocating for women’s rights and freedom of the press in Yemen.  She was the first Peace Prize winner invited to the event, and her tale of oppression and the fight for the rights of women and children was truly inspirational. She received a standing ovation from the crowd.

The panel discussion was less emotional but equally important, with prestigious members such as Vinton Cerf, a “father of the internet;” Adriana Marais, Head of Innovation at SAP; Steven Chu, a Physics Laureate; Brian Schmidt, a Physics Laureate and others discussed “How Can Science Change the World for the Better?”

It was fascinating to learn that the majority of the panel felt that science was ready and in a place to change the world. Yet, it often comes down to the mismanagement of the government and societal pressures that prevent science from making the big changes it needs and is ready to make.

“We can hold our political leaders accountable; that is something we can all do, and should do more,” said Schmidt.

It was clear that events like the Nobel Laureates Meetings are critical to getting people working together worldwide and moving toward common goals beyond politics and culture. 

After these insightful discussions, we moved to the Arboretum Lawn for a science picnic, where everyone found themselves adding to the topics of the panels over lunch.

The attendees also received ample free time to roam Mainau Island, a living showcase of how important sustainability and science are to Baden-Württemberg. Along with a scenic Planet Walk that takes you through tranquil woods with trees over 150 years old, the Island of Mainau promotes a sustainable environment and works closely to reduce energy and foster green spaces.

As the Nobel Laureate in Physics, Joseph H. Taylor, said, “Mainau is special” when referring to the environment on the island and how it provides an ideal setting for the international exchange of ideas.

Taylor won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1993 and is known for his work on pulsars. He spent some of his career putting his research on hold to teach. His message to young scientists was, “Everyone makes mistakes, even Einstein.”

The Importance of Baden-Württemberg and The Laureate Meetings

Science aims to transcend borders, and Lake Constance’s shimmering shores span three countries’ borders and are a real-life metaphor for this noble goal.

A true testament to this was made clear during the closing event, where I witnessed people from more than 80 countries coming together to form friendships, igniting the next big ideas.

One of my favorite moments came when I talked to three young scientists, Nicole Thomas, Julia Healy, and Peter Boorman, astrophysicists from universities in South Africa and The UK. They were huddled in a corner and talking excitedly. When I asked them what was so exciting, they told me they had met at this event, and their work and field of study aligned perfectly. They intend to stay in touch and conduct research together despite the distance between their universities.

Connections like this have been happening since 1951 when German physicians Franz Karl Hein and Gustav Wilhelm Parade approached Count Lennart Bernadotte of Mainau Island in Baden-Württemberg, who had connections to Sweden’s royal family.

They hoped to create an event to unite scientists despite the challenging global climate post-WWII. Thanks to their efforts, seven Nobel Laureates agreed to come to Germany for the first Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, recognized as a post-war reconciliation. Due to its success, the event grew to include younger scientists. It is now renowned worldwide as an event that brings the best minds from over 80 countries to tackle global issues and foster progress and peace.

To this day, the Bernadotte family and the Island of Mainau Island play an essential role in hosting these meetings. Countess Bernadotte, who has taken the reins of hosting the meetings from her father, is a key patron and welcomes the scientists to Mainau for the closing event.

As we departed the island, she was seen waving a white handkerchief, sending us off with good wishes and the promise to return to Lake Constance the following year.

Baden-Wurttemberg: The Perfect Mix of Science and Fun!

Science

• Albert Einstein was born in Ulm, Baden-Württemberg.
• 4.9% of their GDP goes toward research and development- an international top value.
• It is the top region in Europe for this type of funding.
• More than ¼ of the research in Germany is done in BW.
• Binoculars, motor cars, radio clocks, pretzels, wall plugs, matches, and the perm were all invented here. 
• Research and development investment is the highest in the EU.
• Over 75 universities.
• 14,608 patents registered in 2018

Fun

• 344 lakes for swimming and leisure – such as Lake Constance!
• 27,247 hectares of wine growing.
• 206 breweries.
• Home of the Black Forest.
• The World’s Largest Pumpkin Festival.
• Amazing work-life balance.

A Tearful Goodbye

With the last official events drawing to a close, the scientists and Laureates boarded the boat once more and officially graduated into becoming Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting Alumni.

Everyone let loose with an ice-cold beer or lemonade on the cruise back to Lindau from Mainau to celebrate. A band took center stage, and several Laureates and their partners swung onto the floor to kick off the dancing, proving that they really can do just about everything.

It wasn’t long before the band was playing hits from around the world, including K-Pop, Ragge, West African Music, Rock, Dance, and Classics, a nod to the 89 countries represented at the event —they could play it all.

When we docked at the Laureates’ hotel, I heard an unusual sound vibrating through the boat. As I peered over the edge, I saw hundreds of hands beating the metal sides of the ship, sending booming sound waves echoing off Lake Constance.

The students applauded the Laureates and thanked them for all the time they gave listening, advising, and sharing ideas. The emotional send-off reflected the importance and impact of the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings to young scientists from around the world.

Attending the closing event of the Nobel Laureate Meetings hosted by Baden-Württemberg left a mark on me. As somewhat of an outsider, I was warmly welcomed into the world of science with open arms, invited to share my thoughts and learn from some of the best minds.

I left with hope for the future of science after seeing how this event fostered relationships and ideas that will change the world. For a brief moment in time as I sat back and watched the sailboats and rolling hills go by I knew I was part of something bigger than me, bigger than this world, and maybe even the universe.

As the sun sets on the shores of Lake Constance and the Lindau Meetings, tomorrow will bring future innovations and discoveries that will change our world with ideas that started here.

Thank you, Baden-Wurttemberg, for the beautiful day sailing Lake Constance and the meaningful connections. It was the perfect day to combine science and fun while continuing the message of the first meetings back in 1951 that science is an omen of peace and will change the world for the better.

Looking for a Different Perspective?

Watch Nikita’s YouTube video about our day cruising Lake Constance with Nobel Laureates. I loved getting to know Nikita, and she offers great insight as she is pursuing a Ph.D. in a science-related field while studying in Germany.

See You Soon in Baden Württemberg

Once again, a huge thanks to the team at BWJetzt for inviting me as a member of the press to join you all for a day on beautiful Lake Constance. I’m proud to live in a country so committed to science, research, and development. Whether you are looking for outdoor adventures, sustainable wine sipping, or looking for a university to pursue a PhD, Baden-Württemberg has something for you!

Aufweidersehen from me, Stag and Griffin. Wir können alles außer Hochdeutsch.

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