International Programs

62nd Meeting of Nobel Laureates

Applications to attend the Lindau meeting are now open

The 62nd Meeting of Nobel Laureates was held in Lindau, Germany, from 1 to 6 July 2012. Twenty-seven Nobel Laureates and more than 550 young researchers from around the globe attended the annual meeting, which this year focused on physics. Professor Michael Dopita FAA led the delegation of seven young Australian scientists: Sarah Beavan (Australian National University), Jacinta Delhaize (University of Western Australia), Andrew McCulloch (University of Melbourne), Adele Morrison (Australian National University), Melissa Ness (Australian National University), Grace Shepherd (University of Sydney) and Minnie Mao (formerly of the University of Tasmania). Another young scientist, Andy Casey (Australian National University), attended the meeting under the auspices of the Lindau Foundation and as a student of Professor Brian Schmidt FAA, Australia’s most recent Nobel Prize winner, whose attendance at the meeting was a highlight.

The meeting gave the delegates the opportunity to interact with their scientific heroes, exchange ideas, gain exposure to areas in their chosen discipline and establish new contacts and networks with their peers. During the week Professor Dopita organised private lunches with Laureates Professor Brian Schmidt, Professor John Mather, Professor George Smoot, Sir Harold Kroto, who was joined by his wife, and Professor Paul Crutzen. The delegation reported that these three lunches were the highlight of the week, and an unparalleled opportunity to meet and talk with the Laureates in a casual and conversational setting.

On behalf of the Academy and the student delegation, Melissa Ness presented Countess Bettina Bernadotte, President of the Council for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, with a small gift as thanks for her support for the Lindau Nobel experience.

Before the Lindau meeting the delegation attended the 2012 Science at the Shine Dome early career researchers program and took part in a pre-meeting briefing session with past delegation leaders.

More details are available from: www.lindau-nobel.org