So, the NPG team and film crew arrived on Saturday afternoon in Germany and after checking in to our hotels on the mainland, we made our way over to the island of Lindau to meet some prospective students for the series of videos that we are producing. Much discussion ensued over dinner later in the evening and the plan for the films started to crystallise - calls were made and appointments set.

Sunday morning began with some filming of some of the students chosen to speak with the Laureates in the films. This involved finding locations on the scenic island of Lindau where there was enough sun, but not too much - and as little background noise as possible. You really don't notice how noisy 'background noise' can be until you need to film! Cobbled streets and roller-suitcases make for quite a din!

Sunday afternoon then saw the opening ceremony at Lindau, which began with a very eloquent and moving address to the assembled delegates from Countess Bettina Bernadotte, President of the Council for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. Two new members were admitted to the Honorary Senate of the Foundation Lindau Nobelprizewinners Meetings at Lake Constance - José Barroso, President of the EU-Commission and Kapil Sibal, Indian Minister for Human Resource Development.

The ceremony drew to a close after a discussion on the stage with five of the young researchers who are attending the meeting, during which they described what is required to succeed in science - with answers ranging from good collaborations, support, ambition, and perhaps even a little bit of luck.

We've now just had the first scientific session, with talks from Ertl, Ernst and Noyori - I'll gather my thoughts and then tell you all about it a little later, but now the second session is moments away. For live updates, you can follow on Twitter!

Stuart

Stuart Cantrill (Chief Editor, Nature Chemistry)