It is past midnight, and the bar is packed with young scientists from all around the world. There is a sparkle in their eyes, and the atmosphere is buzzing with excitement, laughter, and thought-provoking discussions: the so-called Lindau spirit. Ideas and experiences are exchanged, science is debated, and at the heart of each conversation lie the same questions: What comes next? What will science bring? And who will make the next great discovery?

Behind all of us lies the 74^th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting on Chemistry. A conference unlike any other, dedicated to connecting across generations, cultures, disciplines, and borders. 33 Nobel Laureates joined 606 young scientists from over 80 countries to share their knowledge and experience, to challenge assumptions, to reflect on failure, and to imagine the future of science.

Looking back, it’s hard to choose what was most memorable: queuing for breakfast with David MacMillan, strolling through Lindau with Frances Arnold and John Jumper, Jean-Marie Lehn’s beautiful Agora talk on how matter becomes complex, the honest and open exchange with Morten Meldal and his wife, or Martin Chalfie challenging us to question everything. We even got to meet Kurt Wüthrich, former professor of biophysics at ETH Zurich, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2002 for the structure determination of proteins using NMR spectroscopy. Every laureate was generous with their time, answering questions, offering advice, sharing personal stories, and giving fresh perspectives on challenging topics. In the end, it wasn’t just their scientific achievements that impressed us, but the kindness and enthusiasm they shared with all of us.

A professional highlight for Magdalena was presenting her master’s thesis research in the Next Gen Science Sessions: “I was quite nervous presenting in front of young scientists, Nobel Laureates, people from the press, and state representatives, but the experience was exhilarating. I could showcase the craft I love and, most importantly, exchange with and learn from others through insightful conversations afterwards.”

Indeed, the true power of this conference lies in the exchange with peers. Unlike other conferences, most of us came alone, which naturally led to an environment where connections formed easily, and phone numbers were quickly exchanged. It didn’t matter that we had different backgrounds, came from various universities, countries, and continents; we all shared one thing: a passion for chemistry and science. It’s like a conga line; the name may vary across cultures, but the chemistry is instant. Once someone starts, everyone knows how to join in. And that’s exactly how it felt in Lindau. Without hesitation, we joined the chain and just kept going, from breakfast chats to midnight discussions, and eventually a real conga line through the conference hall during the Bavarian evening!

Finally, we concluded with a celebration aboard the ‘Sonnenkönigin’ (the largest boat on Lake Constance) on our trip to Mainau island, wrapping up a fantastic once-in-a-lifetime experience, carrying the Lindau spirit with us for a long time…

Cosima Brudy acknowledges the support by the Verband der Chemischen Industrie e.V.. Magdalena Lederbauer is thankful for the support by the Lindau Spirit Fellowship and the Austrian Study Foundation by the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Eva J. Meeus acknowledges the support by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). Finally, we would like to thank ETH Zurich for their continued and invaluable support throughout our careers.

When I heard about the International Chemistry Olympiad 2023 (IChO23), I decided to volunteer and was delighted to be offered the role of Senior Team Guide. The International Chemistry Olympiad is a global scientific competition that brings together delegations from all corners of the world. This remarkable event welcomed 89 delegations, each consisting of up to four students and two or more members of the International Jury.

Volunteering at the IChO23 was one of these experiences that are so intense that words fall short in conveying their impact. This event encompassed countless enlightening moments, insights and emotions, extending beyond what can be expressed in a blog post. Nonetheless, I’II try to provide a glimpse into this extraordinary adventure, focusing on the theme of cultural exchange and how Swiss punctuality met many other cultures.

Switzerland’s reputation for meticulous punctuality played a central role in ensuring the event’s smooth operation, especially when it came to tight schedules and relying on punctual public transportation. However, adapting to this Swiss sense of timing proved challenging for many of our international guests. I would like to share one of the many stories related to this, which occurred during an excursion to the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), a research facility located an hour away from Zurich. PSI operates large scientific research facilities, including the Swiss Light Source, which we had the opportunity to visit in guided tours. On this particular occasion, I found myself accompanying one group with students from various Middle-Eastern countries, who were lagging behind the rest of the tour group. To avoid them getting lost in the facility, I urged them to hurry up. Some students quickened their pace, but not all of them understood my message. At that point, one thoughtful student approached me, saying ‘Tell them beserah’. I hesitated, feeling uncomfortable telling someone something I didn’t understand. The student sensed my indecision and ingeniously reduced his own pace, becoming comically slow. He indeed had me react as hoped, turning to him saying ‘Oh come on, now you’re slowing down…Beserah! Beserah!’ The student started straight away to walk enthusiastically fast. We all burst into laughter as we realized that the student had taught me an Arabic word to help them hurry up when needed. I later learned that beserah means ‘quickly’. My Arabic vocabulary was even extended that day with yallah, which means ‘let’s go’. Every time we met throughout the event we started to laugh remembering the scene and couldn’t help but shared the story with other students who also laughed along.

In that sense, the International Chemistry Olympiad was not just a celebration of Chemistry, but a lesson in unity, cultural harmony and the deep impact of understanding and embracing our differences. It taught us that, with a little laughter and a willingness to learn, we can bridge even the widest cultural gaps and work harmoniously to achieve our goals.