The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is one of the world’s leading research institutions, and Europe’s flagship laboratory for the life sciences.

EMBL is an intergovernmental organisation specialising in basic research in the life sciences, funded by public research monies from 21 member states, including much of Europe and Israel, and two associate members, Argentina and Australia. EMBL operates from five sites across Europe:

• Heidelberg, Germany – main laboratory
• Hinxton, UK – European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI)
• Grenoble, France – research and services for structural biology
• Hamburg, Germany – research and services for structural biology
• Monterotondo, Italy – Mouse Biology unit

The cornerstones of EMBL’s mission are to:

• perform basic research in molecular biology
• train scientists, students and visitors at all levels
• offer vital services to scientists in the member states
• develop new instruments and methods
• actively engage in technology transfer.

To address the demand for continuing professional development of secondary school biology teachers, EMBL launched the European Learning Laboratory for the Life Sciences (ELLS). The education facility has been created to bring secondary school teachers and students into the research lab. Exciting hands-on encounters with state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques help bridge the gap between research and schools. As an integral part of the EMBL, ELLS is located in the unique environment of one of the world’s most renowned research institutions. The EMBL has an international staff of young, energetic scientists, and is in the unique position to connect scientific expertise directly with educational outreach activities. Through its multifaceted training activities – such as LearningLABs, ELLS Webinars and Science Chats, the EMBL Insight Lectures series, the TeachingBASE and networking opportunities such as EMBLog (www.embl.org/ells) – ELLS provides high school science teachers with the hands-on expertise and theoretical know-how to bring concepts of molecular biology into the classroom.