How to win a Nobel prize in Medicine

Philosophy of the Lindau meetings

Since 1901, Nobel prizes have been awarded to “those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind” in accordance with the 1895 will of the Swedish inventor and businessman, Alfred Bernhard Nobel. In 1951, two doctors in Lindau set up a congress to encourage international scientific exchanges with Nobel laureates, to help to rebuild the scientific bridges between nations after the second world war. A total of 53 meetings later, the original concept continues to provide an opportunity for science and medicine students from all over the world to discuss research topics with one another and to pick the brains of and interact with the Nobel prize winners. For many of the winners, the conference gave them the opportunity to communicate their words of wisdom to students who will be the future of medical research. According to Johannes Rau, president of the Republic of Germany, “The Lindau meetings have a special emphasis, allowing personal contact between …