By Wallace Mawire
At least 620 young global scientists from at least 85 countries are meeting in Lindau, Germany to share information and research advances in chemistry with Science Nobel Prize winners at the 74th Nobel Laureate Meeting which was officially opened on Sunday, 29 June, 2025 under the theme: Chemistry Transforming Society.
The meeting is also being attended by more than 30 Nobel Laureates.
Nobel Laureates.
The programme is dedicated to the Nobel Prize discipline of Chemistry.
To be debated at the Opening Ceremony: Scientific dialogue at risk
Panel discussions are being held including the Lindau premiere of the 2024 Laureate John M. Jumper at a top-notch panel on Artificial lntelligence (AI) with leading figures from science and technology.
At the official opening Countess Bettina Bernadotte af Wisborg, President of the Council, opened the 74th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting welcoming more than 30 Nobel Laureates and hundreds of young scientists as well as guests of honour in the Lindau Inselhalle:
“As we begin this festival of science, let me emphasize that Lindau is a place – and always has been for the free flow of ideas and thoughts. Scientific dialogue is precious to us. But it is also vulnerable. It is not a given. It requires all our commitment and ongoing support. We do not want to turn a blind eye when scientific dialogue is at stake. Rather, we at Lindau want to address this topic in a truly global approach, starting from scientific evidence and thinking about concrete solutions in areas where each of us can create the biggest impact, ” Countess Wisborg said.
The meeting is addressing the most topical questions in science being discussed by some of its greatest minds.
The 74th Lindau Meeting will also feature three key themes namely the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in chemical research and its potential to revolutionize the field, sustainability in chemistry, not only green labs, circularity and resource efficiency but also sustainability in broader ways such as policy, education and leadership and the role of science diplomacy in fostering international cooperation and addressing global challenges.
Three Nobel Laureates are contributing to contributed to the opening ceremony and gave the go-ahead for the meeting. The Laureates included Frances H. Arnold who shared the Laureates’ greetings. Ben L. Feringa and Sir David W.C. MacMillan who had a conversation on “Current Key Topics in Chemistry” before the Meeting’s scientific chairs, Valeria Nicolosi and Pernilla Wittung-Stafshede, introduced its scientific programme. Also the opening ceremony was concluded by the induction of Jeffrey W. Sherman, Chief Medical Officer Emeritus, Horizon Therapeutics/Amgen, into the Honorary Senate of the Lindau Meetings.
Later in the week, Lindau continues its programme with the Heidelberg Laureate Forum through the Heidelberg Lecture delivered by Jack J. Dongarra (Turing Award, 2021).
The meeting will also lead science policymakers to address key themes of the field.
It will also assemble new ministers Dorothee Bär (Germany) and Eva-Maria Holzleitner (Austria) as well as Lindau habitué Markus Blume (Bavaria), leading politicians to seize the opportunity to comment on major trends and challenges for the national and international research landscape.
Dorothee Bär, German Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space said “There can be no scientific excellence without international mobility and academic freedom. Lindau offers exactly this, an extraordinary place of exchange between experienced and aspiring researchers from all around the world. While societies are fragmenting and becoming more polarized, Lindau continues to bridge countries, generations, and research areas. We will only be able to solve the great challenges of this century when we stand together. How artificial intelligence improves our way of life and changes chemical research is at the core of this year’s Lindau meeting. I am proud of so many impressive minds coming together in my home state of Bavaria, believing in the spirit of freedom in action in research and beyond.”
Eva-Maria Holzleitner, Austrian Federal Minister for Women, Science and Research said “Today’s meeting proves that the research community thrives on international cooperation. The research landscape needs reliable framework conditions and intellectual freedom in order to ensure successful collaboration. However, we are currently witnessing that the freedom of science and academic research is coming under pressure in more and more countries. Nevertheless, Austria is and will remain a safe haven for science and research and we are committed to international scientific collaboration, exchange and mobility. Therefore, I am delighted that Austria continues the long-term partnership with the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings for yet another three-year period to further strengthen international exchange as we jointly push the limits of our knowledge.”
Markus Blume, Bavarian State Minister for Science and the Arts said “As a unique platform for exchange and networking, Lindau is sending a very important signal to the world these days that science thrives on cooperation, on the joint struggle of the brightest minds for the best ideas! We are all in agreement on this: freedom of science is irrefutable, as is the value of cooperation. What Lindau shows on a small scale applies to Bavaria, Germany, and Europe as a whole: our arms are open. We are a safe harbour for scientists from all over the world. Welcome to Bavaria, this applies to our world-class research location not only during the Nobel Laureate Meeting, but 365 days a year!”
Another focus will be on cutting-edge research on the meeting’s core topics to be presented by 44 Young Scientists who have qualified for five Next Gen Science Sessions. The participating Nobel Laureates and Young Scientists will engage in programme formats of informal exchange such as Open Exchanges, Laureate Lunches and Science Walks.
Also the Mainau Day will follow the historic precedent in focussing on pressing global Issues.
The Meeting traditionally ends with another highlight, the boat trip from Lindau to Mainau Island on its final Friday hosted by the State of Baden-Württemberg. Also the closing panel will be dedicated to the discussion on “Global Challenges, Global Solutions: The Role of Science Diplomacy”. Nobel Laureates, Young Scientists, and international experts such as Yuko Harayama from the Japanese National Institute of Information and Communication Technology (NICT), will contribute to the panel.
After the closing ceremony and the Science Picnic co-hosted by the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts, State of Baden-Württemberg, the Young Scientists will leave Lake Constance as Lindau Alumni, becoming part of a global network of excellence.
More than 30 Nobel Laureates
Like John M. Jumper, 2024 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, five more Laureates will be present in Lindau for the first time and these include Moungi G. Bawendi (Chemistry 2023), Sir M. Stanley Whittingham, Akira Yoshino (Chemistry 2019), Sir Gregory P. Winter (Chemistry 2018) and Thomas C. Südhof (Chemistry 2013).
Around 620 Young Scientists representing 85 nationalities are attending the meeting and the
Next Gen Science sessions will offer the big stage to around 45 Young Scientists.
Countries which are participating in the global science meeting include also African countries. The participating countries with young scientists participating include Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, lreland, Israel, ltaly, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Taiwan (China), Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.