In 1951, a wealthy Swedish count named Leonard Bernadotte organized a meeting of Nobel laureates in the scenic town of Lindau, Germany. His goal was to attract foreign scientists to a country whose own scientists had become isolated as a result of World War II. In the 50 years since, the purpose of the annual meetings, which alternate their focus among the Nobel categories of chemistry, physics, and physiology or medicine, has changed significantly. No longer just a mechanism for attracting foreign scientists to Germany, it's become an opportunity for laureates to meet not only with one another, but with science graduate students from all over the world. The conference, now run by Leonard's wife, Sonja Bernadotte, aims to both celebrate science and enlighten young scientists.
On June 26, in honor of the meeting's 50th anniversary (moved up one year to avoid conflict with the 100th anniversary of the Nobel ...
