On December 2, an exclusive symposium will take place at the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences in Vilnius to mark the 50th anniversary of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and five years of Lithuania’s membership in this prestigious organization. The event will feature a special guest – the EMBL Director General, Prof. Edith Heard. A unique exhibition will also be held, showcasing EMBL’s research and creative works by Lithuanian schoolchildren.
"Initiated in 2019, Lithuania’s membership in EMBL was a historic milestone in the country’s scientific development. This opened up opportunities for our researchers to join cutting-edge international projects, access state-of-the-art technologies, and enhance their expertise by collaborating with world-class scientists. The EMBL Partnership Institute, established at the Life Sciences Center of Vilnius University (VU), has become a platform for developing new technologies and enabling young researchers to work and learn internationally. This event is a significant opportunity to highlight how international cooperation fosters scientific innovation and contributes to elevating Lithuania’s profile on the global stage," said Prof. Vytautė Starkuvienė-Erfle, the first Lithuanian to complete an internship at EMBL and one of the event’s organizers.
The EMBL Director General, Prof. Edith Heard, will take part in the event
The symposium will bring together a team of international scientists and experts: Prof. Edith Heard, one of the most influential figures in the field of life sciences, will present her insights into EMBL’s history and future challenges; Prof. Olli Kallioniemi, Research Director at the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, will present the importance of technology, artificial intelligence, and open data in advancing life sciences; and Dr. Gintaras Valinčius, Chair of the Research Council of Lithuania (RCL), will provide an overview of the development of molecular biology in the country.
A panel discussion titled "Life Sciences and Technology: What’s Next?" will not only feature the EMBL Director General Prof. Edith Heard and the RCL Chair Dr. Gintaras Valinčius but also Distinguished Professor Virginijus Šikšnys and Dr. Stephen Knox Jones, Senior Researcher at the EMBL Partnership Institute. Moderated by Donatas Staniulis, the discussion will reflect on the future of life sciences and new perspectives in Lithuania and worldwide.
A collaborative exhibition from EMBL and Lithuanian schoolchildren
The event participants will have an opportunity to see a fragment of the unique exhibition, ‘Exploring and Creating: Science as Art’. The exhibition will combine high-resolution microscopy images from the EMBL Imaging Centre, revealing the beauty of the molecular world, with creative works by Lithuanian schoolchildren. Each displayed artwork will reflect curiosity and creativity, as well as invite visitors to explore the mysteries of science through the lens of art. The exhibition will aim to inspire a deeper understanding of science and its impact on the world around us.
The event is organised by VU, the VU Life Sciences Center, EMBL, STEAM centres, and the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. The sponsors include Thermo Fisher Scientific, Linea Libera, the Biomedicine Future Foundation, and Caszyme.