Embracing uncertainty: Inside the inaugural NOMIS Fellows Symposium
Published on
June 29, 2026
Organization
Set against the inspiring backdrop of the Swiss Alps, the inaugural NOMIS Fellows Symposium recently brought together an international, interdisciplinary group of current and former fellows for three days of keynotes, workshops and collaborative exchange. Under the theme “Embracing Uncertainty,” the event offered researchers space to broaden their horizons, challenge their assumptions, and discover unexpected connections across fields.
From June 12 to 14, 2026, a group of around 40 NOMIS Fellows from across institutions, disciplines and generations gathered in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, launching the first-ever NOMIS Fellows Symposium. Designed as a unique opportunity to foster cross-disciplinary dialogue, the symposium explored how uncertainty can act as a powerful driver of scientific discovery. Accomplished researchers including Helga Nowotny, Martin Hetzer, Michael Hagner and NOMIS Awardee Manos Tsakiris led the workshops and panel discussions, and countless informal conversations established meaningful connections.
For many, the smaller group discussions were the heart of the experience, where the dialogue moved fluidly between structural questions facing academia and specific aspects of individual fields, revealing far more overlap between disciplines than most had expected. The setting itself played its part: Lenzerheide offered both a place for quiet reflection and a catalyst for new collaboration, with several fellows already planning joint projects sparked by conversations there.
Former NOMIS–eikones Fellow Adrian Anagnost noted, “It was such a rich and really enjoyable way to recharge my thinking and look inward to look outward.”
For some, the gathering reignited a longstanding fascination with the intersection of art and science; for others, it opened entirely new perspectives on fields from the humanities to AI. And as more than one fellow noted with a smile, the sparks flying between disciplines were not only intellectual — a traditional fondue night left its own memorable mark.
Capturing the very spirit the symposium set out to create, former NOMIS–Salk Fellow Anna Maria Globig shared, “I am walking away with a much richer understanding of research in the humanities, alongside valuable insights into science communication and the evolving landscape of AI in science. Above all, the retreat strongly reinforced our shared responsibility as global citizens to collaborate, share, and promote science across borders.”
The Fellows Symposium served as a catalyst that will continue to shape the NOMIS community through ongoing conversations, future collaborations and bold new ideas.
About the NOMIS Fellowship Program
Some of the most transformative ideas in science originate from the fresh perspectives of early-career researchers. The NOMIS Fellowship Program supports exceptional postdoctoral researchers during a critical transitional phase in their careers. By providing sustained funding, we grant emerging leaders the freedom to pursue curiosity-driven research. While the fellowships are awarded and hosted directly by our world-class partner institutions, NOMIS Fellows become an integral part of our global, interdisciplinary network of pioneering researchers. We empower these emerging scientists to build bridges across academic boundaries, providing the resources and mentorship required to explore their boldest questions and spark new discoveries.
