Elaine Fischer travels to Singapore to attend the Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS) 2026
From 5–9 January 2026, Elaine Fischer represented the Technische Universität München (TUM) at the Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS) 2026 in Singapore, organised by the National Research Foundation of Singapore (NRF).
The summit brought together 409 young scientists from 57 countries, spanning a wide range of scientific disciplines. It provided a unique opportunity to exchange ideas with 21 distinguished scientists, including recipients of the Nobel Prize, the Fields Medal, the Millennium Technology Prize, and the Turing Award.
Through keynote lectures, panel discussions, and interactive small-group sessions, participants engaged in discussions on cutting-edge scientific developments, as well as the societal and ethical dimensions of research. The overarching theme of this year’s summit, “Advancing Science, Creating Technologies for a Better World,” framed many of these discussions.
One particularly memorable moment took place during an informal small-group session with Richard J. Roberts, who won the Nobel Prize in 1993 for his discovery of “split genes.” He highlighted the importance of clear and effective science communication and shared his so-called “grandmother test”: when you can explain your research to your grandmother, and she can explain it to someone else, you have succeeded in making your research clear and accessible beyond the scientific community.
The programme also included site visits to some of Singapore’s leading research institutions. Elaine visited the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), as well as the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Cancer Science Institute (CSI), gaining insight into Singapore’s dynamic research landscape and its strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration.
During her stay in Singapore, Elaine also met with colleagues from the TUMCREATE branch of the tSCN Unit team and enjoyed lunch with Resshaya Roobini Murukesu and the LightSPAN team. These moments provided a relaxed and welcoming setting for exchanging ideas, strengthening connections, and deepening collaborations.
