Last year, Roseleen Kafley, a bachelor of science student in physics at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), had the extraordinary opportunity to attend the 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in physics.
Held from June 30 to July 5, 2024, in Lindau, Germany, Kafley was the first UNB student to attend the meeting as a young scientist and is now New Brunswick's first Lindau alum.
This prestigious event brought together some of the brightest minds in the field, including Nobel laureates and young scientists from around the world for a week of lectures, discussions and personal interactions.
"Attending the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It was the best six days of my life, full of knowledge and wisdom," Kafley said.
Kafley was nominated to attend by Bhutan's Royal Society of STEM and credits UNB's physics faculty for helping shape her work and research and encouraging her to take the leap.
Woven into the meeting's schedule were science walks and laureate lunches, where the young scientists were able to connect with Nobel laureates one-on-one.
"Speaking with scientists like Dr. Saul Perlmutter really reaffirmed my passion for pushing the boundaries of knowledge and showed me that even the most ambitious dreams, like going to space, are within reach with persistence and curiosity," she said.
She particularly cherished her interactions with Dr. Donna Strickland and Dr. Anne L'Huillier, both of whom have been role models for her as leading women in physics.
"There are very few female scientists, and in physics, there are even fewer," Kafley noted.
Since the Nobel Prize's inception in 1901, only five women have been awarded the Nobel Prize in physics. Dr. Strickland received the Nobel Prize in 2018 and Dr. L'Huillier in 2023 (the other recipients include Marie Curie (1903), Maria Goeppert-Mayer (1963) and Andrea Ghez (2020)).
"My interactions with Nobel laureates were transformative. I still remember my conversation with Dr. Donna Strickland as we discussed the future of high-intensity optical pulses in satellite communications," she recalled.
"The experience not only sparked new ideas, but solidified my determination to keep going and hopefully contribute something at UNB and back home in Bhutan."
Kafley has been involved in many exciting space-related projects, including launching SEDS Canada's first space-themed blog and podcast. She also held the position of vice president, outreach for the UNB Physics and Astronomy Club, having organized Orion viewings and telescope nights.
As a research assistant working with Dr. Richard Langley, professor in the department of geodesy and geomatics engineering at UNB, Kafley was involved in the global navigation satellite system receiver for ionospheric and position studies for CubeSat NB, New Brunswick's first-ever cube satellite.
When asked what's next, Kafley reflected, "I have always been captivated by the mysteries of the cosmos and humanity's quest to explore the final frontier.
"This love for space exploration eventually led me to develop a passion for aviation and optimizing space technology to aid in current and future space exploration. Attending the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting gave me a chance to connect my passion for space physics with cutting-edge science. It also gave me a chance to reflect on my future.
"I hope to work in fields that advance space exploration and physics research while continuing to inspire others, just as I have been inspired by mentors and peers in this journey."
