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Educate, Inspire, Connect: Living Science Among Nobel Giants at Lindau

22 July 2025

My name is Guljannat Ablat, a final-year PhD candidate in the Müller Lab in the Department of Chemistry. My work focuses on developing biochemical tools to detect proteins' hidden switches – post-translational modifications. Earlier this month I had the opportunity to attend the 74th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (Chemistry), where young scientists met, rubbed shoulders and sometimes danced with over 30 Nobel Laureates in the subject we all share. This is a short story of my time there.

Lindau Guljannat Ablat 200 x 300 — Guljannat Ablat

Attending the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting from 29th June to 4th July. felt like stepping into a scientific fairytale. For one extraordinary week, the island city of Lindau (Germany) became a living laboratory of inspiration, where Nobel laureates transformed from distant legends into approachable mentors, and 600+ young scientists from across the globe became instant collaborators and friends.

From the moment I arrived, the energy was electric. As a PhD candidate in Chemical Biology, I had to pinch myself when Nobel laureates like Ben Feringa (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 2016) joined us for dinner, asking about my research with genuine interest.

Watching Morten Meldal (2022) dance nearby or hearing David MacMillan (2021) casually mention knowing my supervisor and colleagues – these were the scientists whose textbooks I studied, whose discoveries formed the foundation of my work. Yet here they were, sharing not just their groundbreaking science but also their personal struggles, failures, and heartfelt advice.

Lindau group shot — 33 Nobel Laureates in Chemistry gathered at Lindau to share their wisdom with over 600 young scientists.

The days blended together beautifully. Mornings began with laureate lectures that felt more like detective stories than dry academic talks. Afternoons brought intimate Agora sessions and free exchange sessions where no question was off-limits – I asked about everything from career crossroads to the role of intuition in discovery.

Avram Hershko (2004) moved me with his tribute to mentorship, honouring both his own mentors and the students he'd guided. Steven Chu's (Nobel prize in Physics, 1997) fiery discussion on scientists' ethical duty to address climate change left me rethinking my own impact. And all of them had one hidden story that gave me this feeling: "Science is like a thriller. You know where to start, but you never know where you'll arrive", a quote from Ingenious Encounters: World Tour to Nobel Laureates.

Me asking for an autograph from Morten Meldal.

Avram Hershko discussing his scientific journey and the importance of finding a good mentor in a scientific career.

Open panel and agora sessions were held throughout the five days.

I had never been connected with such a large and diverse scientific community in such a short time. Over coffee, I debated career transitions with a biochemist who'd moved from academia to drug delivery in industry. I bonded with a structural biologist over the bittersweet struggle of finishing a PhD while still deeply invested in unfinished work.

At the Bavarian evening, an Indian biochemist shared her honest journey balancing science and family. And on the boat to Mainau Island, an American PhD student and I traded stories about navigating personal life alongside research. These spontaneous connections revealed Lindau's true power – it's not just about learning science, but about experiencing it as a universal language of curiosity.

The Bavarian Evening is a festive event inspired by the culture, traditions, and cuisine of Bavaria, a region in southern Germany renowned for its rich heritage.

The boat to Mainau island.

Returning to my lab at King's College London, I'm filled with gratitude – to my mentor Dr Manuel Müller, to my department, to the university, and to this incredible community.

The laureates showed me that science, at its best, is both rigorously profound and deeply human. And to my new Lindau family scattered across the world: this isn't goodbye, but a beginning. As one laureate reminded us, "The next great discovery might come from any one of you. Maybe even from the person sitting next to you right now."