Fonds WIS - Women in Science Programme

The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) was founded in 1964 as a professional society for life scientists with the goal of strengthening molecular biology research in Europe and fostering international collaboration. Its creation was inspired by a growing recognition in the postwar period that Europe needed stronger infrastructure and cooperation to remain competitive in biological sciences, particularly compared with the United States.

In its early years, EMBO focused on supporting scientific exchange and training, notably through fellowships that enabled young researchers to work abroad and acquire new expertise, as well as its core membership. EMBO also began organising scientific meetings, workshops, and courses that encouraged collaboration and the dissemination of knowledge across national boundaries.

As one way of meeting its goals, EMBO considered the creation of a central laboratory, and along with the EMBC created the EMBL in 1974.

Over time, EMBO expanded its activities to include scientific publishing (launching The EMBO Journal in 1982, followed by other high-impact journals), policy advocacy for life sciences, and the development of programs that supported career progression, such as the EMBO Young Investigator Programme (1999) and EMBO Global Investigator Network (2019).

Today, EMBO represents over 2,000 elected members and associate members worldwide. It continues to play a vital role in promoting excellence in the life sciences through funding, training, networking, publishing, and policy engagement, with an enduring emphasis on international cooperation and scientific quality.

EMBO’s women in science program began in the early 2000s, with a special meeting called “The Glass Ceiling for Women in the Life Sciences being held in June 2001, and Gerlind Wallon producing a position paper highlighting the issues facing women in the life sciences in December of the same year.
In 2002, EMBO established Re-Start Fellowships, the purpose of which was to support women scientists who wanted to return to the bench after having taken a break (eg. Maternity leave), with 2 year fellowships.
In 2006, the Set-Routes initiative was established. For a period of 3 years, The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) and the European Organization for Particle Physics (CERN) managed an initiative to increase the visibility of women in science in education by mobilising “successful women in science, engineering and technology (SET) to go into schools and universities throughout Europe and beyond.” This project was funded by the European Commission.
In October 2008, EMBO council stated that all EMBO programmes were to keep statistics and have established rules and guidelines that highlight and address the under-representation of women in science, and in that same year the first EMBO/FEBS Women in Science awardee was chosen.
The Women in Science programme has engaged in other activities, including holding meetings, publishing reports on the issues facing women in science in scientific journals, and funding lectures by prominent women scientists.