EMBL alumni and staff celebrate 50 years of excellence together at EMBL Heidelberg, July 2024.

As 2024 draws to a close, we would like to thank alumni for their continued support of EMBL. Their participation, volunteering, giving and advocacy are driving EMBL’s mission of advancing life sciences across Europe and beyond.

Together, we marked 50 years of scientific discovery and collaboration, while reaffirming our commitment to pushing the frontiers of molecular biology and integrating new disciplines to create real-world impact.

Participation
This year, alumni continued to participate in EMBL courses, conferences and other in-person and online events. Many former staff joined us for 50th anniversary celebrations at EMBL Heidelberg, EMBL Barcelona, and the 25th anniversary of EMBL Rome.

Volunteering
Members of the alumni community supported these events as speakers, facilitators and organisers, sharing their expertise and insights, and helping to make these meetings a success. Alumni participation in initiatives such as the EMBL Alumni Chats YouTube series and Coffee with EMBL sessions helped highlight EMBL’s history and impact. Beyond the anniversary, former staff continued to give back in various ways, from mentoring and serving on EMBL boards, committees and working groups to nominating for awards and recognitions.

Giving
We are grateful to alumni who gave philanthropically this year, supporting impactful initiatives such as the EMBL Anniversary Fund, the Environmental Research Initiative and Friends of EMBL. Their contributions and commitments significantly help EMBL in advancing its missions. Looking ahead, we’re excited to launch EMBL’s legacy giving programme in 2025.

Advocacy
Over 100 alumni contributed to EMBL’s ‘celebrate, engage, support’ campaign in 2024, sharing their testimonials, archival materials and stories. By following, sharing and contributing to EMBL news and highlighting EMBL’s impact within their networks, alumni are contributing invaluable ambassadorial support. The voices within the community are truly bringing EMBL’s wider impact as Europe’s flagship institute for life sciences research and services to life.

As we close this milestone year, we look ahead with excitement to 2025. We hope to see many alumni at 50th anniversary celebrations at EMBL Grenoble and EMBL Hamburg, as well as at other EMBL events – online and in person, throughout the year.