Two Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics doctoral students have been selected to attend the second Lindau Meeting in Economic Sciences in Lindau, Germany, Aug. 16-19.

Daniel Brown and Katherine McCann, both in the Department of Economics, received two of only 50 National Science Foundation travel grants awarded nationwide. Students were nominated by the chairpersons of their departments.

The Lindau Meeting in Economic Sciences is a unique scientific forum and learning experience that brings students and Nobel laureates together to discuss new discoveries, day-to-day research and more universal aspects of the laureates’ work.

Nobel laureates in chemistry, physics and physiology/medicine have convened annually in Lindau for open and informal meetings with students and young researchers since 1951. But, the first Lindau Meeting in Economic Sciences came in 2004, when hundreds of students attended the three-day conference.

The event consists of formal lectures in the morning with the remainder of the day set aside for students to meet in smaller, informal sessions with the laureates.

“I feel incredibly lucky. I certainly was not expecting to be selected. I really was shocked when I got the news,” McCann said before leaving for the conference. “The meetings will be a great learning experience. However, I have to admit that I am most excited about meeting the Nobel laureates. They are incredible economists, and it will be an honor to attend their lectures.”

McCann’s research focuses on the factors that determine whether a person will buy dental insurance.

“ I am particularly interested in the economics of health care,” she said. “Over a third of U.S. citizens have no dental coverage. Dental problems cause employees to miss work like any other illness.” She said her goal is to make dental insurance more accessible, thereby reducing employee health and workplace problems caused by a lack of dental care.

Brown, a third-year doctoral student, said he was shocked when he heard the news of his selection.

“I’m pretty surprised to say the least. John Nash is going to be there, and Clive Granger, Robert Engle [and] Reinhard Selten, the German game theorist,” he said. “I’m interested in game theory in arbitration processes. It’s an honor to be able to meet the Nobel laureates. These people are like the Google of economics.”

Saul Hoffman, professor and chairperson of the economics department, has taught both Brown and McCann.

“They are both excellent students,” he said. “Katy has gone on to become an outstanding teacher of her own sections, and Dan has been an invaluable teaching assistant in Prof. Charles Link’s large multimedia introductory economics class. The award is a wonderful opportunity for them, but it’s also evidence of the great opportunities available to Ph.D. students in economics at UD.”