August 2014
To meet a Nobel Prize winner is something special for every scientist. The early-career researcher Gökhan Ertaylan from the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) at the University of Luxembourg got to meet 37 all at once when he attended the 2014 Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting.
Gökhan Ertaylan, you had the opportunity to attend the 2014 Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting as the only participant from Luxembourg. How was it meeting 37 Nobel Prize winners in Physiology and Medicine?
“It exceeded my expectations. Nowadays, Nobel Prize winners are similar to Oscar winners and best-selling authors – role models for future generations. In Lindau, I had the chance to see and hear the views and stories of the most renowned scientists of my generation first-hand, instead of the idealised version presented in the media.”
What did you learn about Nobel Prize winners at the Meeting?
“Nobel Prize Winners are also just people. They make mistakes just like the average scientist, maybe even more, but they never give up. All the Nobel Prize winners I met work on an idea, just because it interests them – not because they want personal fame or recognition. It was inspiring to see, for example, that the fiery scientific passion still burns in a 90-year old who has been working in science for over 50 years!”
At the LCSB, you investigate the properties of breast cancer cells that metastasize. Did you get any new ideas for your project in Lindau?
“Yes, definitely. Thanks to Elisabeth Blackburn from Australia (Nobel Prize winner 2009) I now have a better understanding of the ageing process in cells and tissue. This differs from person to person, and together with genetics and environmental factors, it could play and important role in the development of diseases such as breast cancer.
“Additionally, I realised that today’s natural sciences researcher cannot stick to the traditional scheme of a researchers if they want to be successful in their domain.”
Can you explain that in more detail?
“Traditionally, a researcher in biology or medicine is viewed as an expert in their field if they are able to develop a hypothesis, plan and carry out experiments and analyse results. At the same time, they have to identify and integrate new insights from journals, and ensure that their own discoveries are published.
“In the last 15 years new technologies have developed so fast, that we now produce way more results than we can analyse. We (natural sciences researchers) can now sequence the entire genome of a human being in one week, but we need weeks or even months to process the data. It’s the same with publications: In my domain e.g., over 14.000 articles were published in the last 12 months – that is over 40 new publications per day that I should theoretically read!”
As a scientist, what can you do about this congestion?
“Generally, we need strong collaborations and a good dialogue in the different disciplines. For the specialist literature we can use algorithms and semi-automatic collection processes from informatics. In data analysis, we use the computer as an extension of our brain, without ignoring the biological context. After that it is just as important to go back to the lab to test the results of the theoretical analysis.”
Which work motto did you take away from the Lindau Meeting?
“Work on something that really interests you. Do not look for excuses!”
Interview: Michèle Weber (FNR)
Translation: Emily Iversen (FNR)
RELATED HIGHLIGHTS
September 7, 2022
For each Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, the FNR runs a Call for promising young researchers with a connection to Luxembourg to attend. For the 2022 Lindau Meeting, dedicated to chemistry, Adil Kabylda, PhD researcher in the group of Prof Alex Tkatchenko at the University of Luxembourg had this rare opportunity. We speak to Adil about the experience of meeting 30 Nobel laureates and inspiring young scientists.
July 22, 2022
For each Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, the FNR runs a Call for promising young researchers with a connection to Luxembourg to attend. For the 2022 Lindau Meeting, dedicated to chemistry, Wieland Goetzke, postdoc in chemical biology at Scripps Research Institute had this rare opportunity. We speak to Wieland about the highlights of this unique experience!
July 15, 2022
For each Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, the FNR runs a Call for promising young researchers with a connection to Luxembourg to attend. For the 2022 Lindau Meeting, dedicated to chemistry, Kim Greis, PhD candidate at Freie Universität Berlin/Fritz Haber Institute and Fulbright grantee at Yale University had this chance. We speak to Kim about the highlights of this rare experience!
September 27, 2019
For each Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, the FNR runs a Call for promising young researchers with a connection to Luxembourg to attend. For the 2019 Lindau Meeting, dedicated to physics, Hannah Rana, PhD candidate in Space Cryogenics at Oxford University had this rare opportunity. Hannah shares her highlights – from speaking to all 39 Nobel Laureates in attendance, including Donna Strickland; realising the importance of science communication; feeling inspired, and much more.
August 28, 2018
Davide Franchina, PhD researcher at the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) in the lab of FNR ATTRACT Fellow Dirk Brenner was among two researchers from Luxembourg to be selected to attend the 2018 Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, dedicated to physiology and medicine. We spoke to the Italian national about the experience and how he got the chance to discuss his own project with a Nobel Laureate.
August 30, 2017
Two young promising economists from Luxembourg had the rare opportunity to be surrounded by 17 Economics Nobel Prize winners, along with hundreds of talented economists, when they were selected to attend the 2017 Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting on Economic Sciences. The FNR spoke to them about the experience.
August 17, 2016
“Educate – inspire – connect” is the motto of Lindau Nobel Laureate meeting that brings together the world’s science elite and talented young scientists.
August 15, 2015
Luxembourgish PhD candidate Charles de Bourcy was one of two Luxembourg participants selected to attend the 2015 Lindau Nobel Meeting. Charles recounts the highlights of attending the Meeting, and cites the passion of some Nobel Prize winners as an inspiration.