The desire to understand life, our bodies and our planet has driven human progress and scientific discovery for generations. For EMBL, this work is a passion driven by infinite curiosity.
The new permanent 'The World of Molecular Biology' exhibition will open in late 2022 at EMBL's headquarters in Heidelberg. It will encourage people to actively engage with science and its relevance for everyday life - for example through fundamental insights into the development and prevention of cancer. The exhibition aims to inspire the next generation with EMBL's passion for science.
"The exhibition will introduce the big and small questions we are trying to answer, evoke curiosity about the inner workings of life, and emphasise the relevance of basic research," said EMBL Director General Edith Heard.
The interactive bilingual exhibition will span 800 square meters in the new EMBL Imaging Centre, and was made possible through financial support from German public and private donors.
When open, the exhibition will offer access through pre-booked guided tours for the public and for schools. Visitors will explore a vibrant discovery space that celebrates molecular biology in general with a special focus on EMBL's work, people and technologies.
The exhibition will consist of three sections introducing the visitors to EMBL and its scientists ('Spirit of EMBL'), inviting them to embark on a journey of scale, exploring EMBL research from genes to ecosystems ('Life is Amazing'), and witnessing the power and beauty of state-of-the-art imaging technology ('Seeing is Understanding').
In addition, exhibition material will allow visitors to explore specific threads of interest, such as health and disease, evolution and society. These topics will also form the basis for special guided tours. Specifically, visitors can learn about different aspects of cancer: How are cutting-edge technologies used to fundamentally understand cancer? How are global research projects helping to decipher the development of tumours in individual patients? And how does this knowledge improve cancer prevention and treatment?
EMBL is grateful for financial support for 'The World of Molecular Biology' from:
- H.W. & J. Hector Stiftung
- Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
- Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
- Stadt Heidelberg
- Manfred Fuchs and Rudolf Fuchs GmbH & Co. KG
- Stiftung Sparkasse Heidelberg. Gut für die Region.
- EMBL Endowment Foundation
Prof. Heard said: "The generous support will enable delivery of this exciting and important project, and help engage many more people with the wonder of molecular biology. We are very much looking forward to welcoming the first visitors."
Bettina Stark-Watzinger, German Federal Minister of Education and Research, said: "Molecular biology influences our entire lives, from health to climate. This makes it all the more important to understand the underlying processes and recognise the opportunities. An interactive exhibition that conveys this in an understandable and quite literally tangible way is a great asset."
Dr. h.c. Hans-Werner Hector added: "Research in a wide variety of areas influences all of our lives. We are very pleased that we can contribute to making biological processes and structures more transparent and better understood. We are very excited about these special insights."
"We not only want to support science, but also make it more accessible to the public. EMBL is a renowned research institute rich in tradition, and the new exhibition building is the perfect addition for science communication and education. The Carl Zeiss Foundation has its roots in microscopy and optics. This is why we are excited about the concept of the exhibition 'Seeing is Understanding', which successfully combines these elements," explained Minister Theresia Bauer, Chair of the Foundation Administration of the Carl Zeiss Foundation.
