Ephrussi reunion: face-to-face

Ephrussi group alumni reunite in Heidelberg for a surprise birthday celebration.

A mosaic of portraits of former and present lab members. IMAGE: Pavel Tomancak

By Florence Besse, former Ephrussi group staff scientist

Forty alumni gathered from across Europe, and as far afield as Japan and the USA, for the Ephrussi group reunion, which coincided with two scientific meetings in Heidelberg in September. Everybody was in high spirits, happy not only to celebrate a special birthday, but also to be reunited with old colleagues and friends. Even those who were meeting for the first time shared a common bond – in Anne Ephrussi’s own words, that’s because “each generation chose the next”.

Those were an incredibly emotional and happy two days.

A special session hosted at the EMBL ATC included speakers representing different ‘generations’ of lab members. Talks covered research and memories from the Ephrussi lab, alongside current work. Every speaker highlighted how their time in the group had influenced and benefited their lives and careers. The guest of honour concluded celebrations with heartfelt thanks to all: “Nothing could have made me happier than this surprise reunion with so many of my lab folk. It was simply wonderful to see and celebrate with past and present lab members, each of whom I am so fond of. What seemed like the past was suddenly very much in the present again. Those were an incredibly emotional and happy two days.”