Sarah with a group of international young scientists at the cusp of their careers. They are from left Jonas Bock (Germany), Jonas Berx (Denmark), Sarah (South Africa), Debati Chattopadhyay (United Kingdom), Hussain Rasiwala (Canada) and Mirko Rossini (Germany).
Tomorrow’s Nobel winners?
This dream recently came true for an alumnus of the NWU. Dr Sarah McKee is one of only eight young scientists from South Africa who were chosen to attend the 73rd Lindau Nobel laureate meeting in Germany in June 2024.
The Academy of Science of South Africa, as the official partner of the Lindau Foundation and with funding from the Department of Science and Innovation, nominates young scientists from South Africa to attend the annual Lindau Nobel laureate meetings.
Sarah, who has a PhD in physics, says the meetings exceeded all her expectations and was so much more than she could ever have hoped for.
“I got the opportunity to not only see the laureates but also mingle and engage with them. It is very encouraging when someone of their stature takes your questions seriously and shows genuine interest in what motivates you as a young scientist.”
Sarah says the event was very dynamic. “One minute you are talking to one of the laureates, the next you are in conversations with young scientists or engaging in media interviews.”
It was a networking dream come true.
A stack of business cards, many new email connections and a few WhatsApp groups for specific projects, bear witness that Sarah enthusiastically took this opportunity to further integrate into the international scientific community.
Three Nobel legends especially impress
Although it was wonderful to meet all the Nobel laureates who attended the meeting in Lindau, three specifically stood out for Sarah.
David Wineland advised the young scientists to enjoy their work. He warned them not to become obsessed with projects but to savour each moment in their careers.
“He was so humble and relatable. David said winning prizes is not the be-all and end-all; the impact of your work weighs much more.”
Many schoolchildren are afraid of mathematics and science. Gerardus ‘t Hooft impressed Sarah with his focus on making these subjects more enjoyable and less scary to learners.
She was in awe of Brian Josephson, who discovered the Josephson effect. This is a phenomenon that occurs when two superconductors are placed close to each other with some barrier or restriction between them.
This discovery played a pivotal role in advances in physics both on fundamental aspects and applications.
Her biggest takeaway from her Lindau experience supports her determination to make a difference through science.
“Nothing is impossible. The elite group of scientists and their proteges inspired me that no matter how difficult you think it will be to achieve your project goals, you will find someone willing to get involved and help you. This is a sure ticket to achieve positive change in the world.”
Sarah with Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman, a multiple award-winning development journalist from Ghana. He received the 2018 Lorenzo Natali Media Prize, a prestigious global award run by the European Commission, and was also named best African TV Journalist in Environmental and Change Reporting in 2020 by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance.
– Willie du Plessis –
They are icons of science and innovation, towering in their ability to find solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems and challenges. It is a dream for many young scientists to be in the presence of these revered scientific minds.
Sarah with a group of international young scientists at the cusp of their careers. They are from left Jonas Bock (Germany), Jonas Berx (Denmark), Sarah (South Africa), Debati Chattopadhyay (United Kingdom), Hussain Rasiwala (Canada) and Mirko Rossini (Germany).
Tomorrow’s Nobel winners?
This dream recently came true for an alumnus of the NWU. Dr Sarah McKee is one of only eight young scientists from South Africa who were chosen to attend the 73rd Lindau Nobel laureate meeting in Germany in June 2024.
The Academy of Science of South Africa, as the official partner of the Lindau Foundation and with funding from the Department of Science and Innovation, nominates young scientists from South Africa to attend the annual Lindau Nobel laureate meetings.
Sarah, who has a PhD in physics, says the meetings exceeded all her expectations and was so much more than she could ever have hoped for.
“I got the opportunity to not only see the laureates but also mingle and engage with them. It is very encouraging when someone of their stature takes your questions seriously and shows genuine interest in what motivates you as a young scientist.”
Sarah says the event was very dynamic. “One minute you are talking to one of the laureates, the next you are in conversations with young scientists or engaging in media interviews.”
It was a networking dream come true.
A stack of business cards, many new email connections and a few WhatsApp groups for specific projects, bear witness that Sarah enthusiastically took this opportunity to further integrate into the international scientific community.
Three Nobel legends especially impress
Although it was wonderful to meet all the Nobel laureates who attended the meeting in Lindau, three specifically stood out for Sarah.
David Wineland advised the young scientists to enjoy their work. He warned them not to become obsessed with projects but to savour each moment in their careers.
“He was so humble and relatable. David said winning prizes is not the be-all and end-all; the impact of your work weighs much more.”
Many schoolchildren are afraid of mathematics and science. Gerardus ‘t Hooft impressed Sarah with his focus on making these subjects more enjoyable and less scary to learners.
She was in awe of Brian Josephson, who discovered the Josephson effect. This is a phenomenon that occurs when two superconductors are placed close to each other with some barrier or restriction between them.
This discovery played a pivotal role in advances in physics both on fundamental aspects and applications.
Her biggest takeaway from her Lindau experience supports her determination to make a difference through science.
“Nothing is impossible. The elite group of scientists and their proteges inspired me that no matter how difficult you think it will be to achieve your project goals, you will find someone willing to get involved and help you. This is a sure ticket to achieve positive change in the world.”
Sarah with Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman, a multiple award-winning development journalist from Ghana. He received the 2018 Lorenzo Natali Media Prize, a prestigious global award run by the European Commission, and was also named best African TV Journalist in Environmental and Change Reporting in 2020 by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance.
– Willie du Plessis –
They are icons of science and innovation, towering in their ability to find solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems and challenges. It is a dream for many young scientists to be in the presence of these revered scientific minds.
