Taking part in the 75th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting was an opportunity to experience science from a much broader perspective. Held in Lindau, Germany, the meeting brought together hundreds of young researchers from different countries and scientific fields, alongside Nobel Prize Laureates whose work has helped shape the role of science in our world.

For Cátia Monteiro, researcher in COMPASS RG at CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials and the Department of Chemistry, one of the most striking aspects of the meeting was precisely this diversity: “Hundreds of people, same goals, different paths”. She met researchers working on questions very different from her own, but connected by the same curiosity and enthusiasm for science.

The programme combined scientific lectures in different formats and discussions with round tables, informal conversations and social activities, creating many opportunities to exchange ideas beyond the boundaries of individual research fields. This was also an opportunity to discuss broader questions about science: what we want to achieve as researchers, how we communicate science to society, the importance of science education, and how discoveries can become meaningful beyond the laboratory.

Among the many ideas shared throughout the meeting, one particularly resonated with Cátia: “Science should be a curiosity-driven adventure,” as Professor Avram Hershko (Nobel Laureate in Chemistry) reminded the young researchers. Another recurring theme was the responsibility that comes with scientific discovery: “Making scientific discoveries is difficult, but making a discovery something meaningful for society is harder.” (Professor Stefan Kaufmann).

Yet, perhaps what made the experience most memorable was not the scientific programme itself, but the people. Conversations with researchers at different stages of their careers, from different countries and disciplines, created connections that went far beyond the exchange of scientific knowledge. Cátia thinks that “what makes Lindau so amazing is not that we share science and experiments, but that we exchange life experiences.”

For Cátia, this is what ultimately made the meeting so special: the sense of community created around a shared curiosity, the possibility of learning from people with completely different perspectives, and the opportunity to see the human side of science.

Cátia leaves a very simple advice for young researchers, regardless of their scientific field: apply! The Lindau Meetings alternate between different scientific disciplines from year to year, so it is worth keeping an eye on the upcoming meetings and applying when the focus aligns with your field and interests. For Portuguese researchers, the application can currently be made through the Lindau Meetings’ Open Application route, as Portugal does not currently have an Academic Partner. Next year, the 76^th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting is focused on Physiology and Medicine, and will take place from 27 June to 2 July 2027 – application period: 8 September – 6 October 2026. Check the site: https://www.lindau-nobel.org/young-scientists/ 

Lindau is an opportunity to step outside your own research environment, meet people who see science from completely different perspectives, and become part of a community connected by curiosity.

“Science isn't about winning, it's about taking part.”