OVERVIEW

The FEBS Education and Training Committee has the mission of promoting biochemistry and molecular biology education and training at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. To realize this objective:

1. We provide leadership in training activities to increase the knowledge and skills of educators
2. We support and encourage the development of innovative teaching methods and educational resources
3. We organize activities and workshops designed to strategically improve education in the molecular life sciences
4. We disseminate good education policies, exchange ideas and share good practices through FEBS Education Ambassadors
5. We distribute grants to support educational activities
6. We arrange education sessions at each FEBS Congress

FEBS Education Events

The FEBS Education and Training Committee supports a range of events, described below, to meet its objectives. Please also visit the Education events page for specific details on upcoming and recent FEBS Education events.

FEBS Education and Training Joint Workshops

These are workshops of up to 2 days that can be co-organized with FEBS Constituent Societies to promote high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate education in the molecular life sciences in different countries of the FEBS area. These can cover various topical issues, including postgraduate education, problem-based learning, designing laboratory practicals, and key scientific skills. For Constituent Societies interested in hosting such education workshops, the Society President, or FEBS Education Ambassador for the Society with the President, should contact Prof. Ferhan G. Sağin, Chair, FEBS Education and Training Committee, via the Contact section of the website to discuss training needs.

FEBS offers up to €2,000 to support up to four in-person education events a year organized by members of FEBS Constituent Societies, such as an education session at the Society’s national congress, or face-to-face training. In the case of online courses, the support is up to €750. The main organizers can be any member of the Society.

Each year there are two calls: 15 December for events taking place January–June of the following year, and 15 June for events taking place July–December of the current year. Applications for this funding must be made to the FEBS Education and Training Committee via this application form. See recent events at the Events page.

FEBS Education and Training at other events

Education sessions are regularly included at the FEBS Congress, sometimes jointly delivered with other organizations. The FEBS Education and Training Committee will contribute to the scientific programme of the upcoming 49th FEBS Congress, Bridging Continents to Advance Life Science, taking place in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 5 to 9 July 2025.

Committee members may also contribute to education-related discussions at other FEBS-supported events such as the FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum and the FEBS Advanced Courses.

FEBS Education Ambassadors

Educators from FEBS Constituent Societies are nominated as Education Ambassadors to represent their countries and contribute to a collaborative European network dedicated to advancing education in the molecular life sciences.

Ambassadors play an active role in promoting FEBS education initiatives, sharing insights and resources, and strengthening connections between national and international communities. They engage regularly( both online and in person) to exchange ideas, address shared challenges and develop joint actions that enhance teaching and learning across the region.

This growing network offers a valuable space for inspiration, collaboration and support, empowering educators to stay connected and actively involved in shaping the future of molecular life sciences education.

FEBS Education and Training Conference

This is a biennial Molecular Life Sciences Education and Training Conference held for the first time in 2024, at Antalya, Türkiye. The aim of this 3 day event is to bring together senior and junior scientists and educators from all over the world to share their expertise and learn from each other.

The conference provides an innovative and welcoming forum to discuss the pressing need for educational transformation in response to rapid technological advancements, societal shifts, and the changing scientific landscape. The learning opportunities include panel discussions, plenary lectures, invited talks, specialized satellite symposiums, certified FEBS Education and Training Academy workshops, regular workshops, short presentations, and poster presentations. You can read an overview of the first FEBS Education and Training Conference, written by one of the participants for the FEBS Network’s Educator channel. More information is also available on the conference website.

FEBS Education and training Academy

The FEBS Education and Training Academy champions excellence and innovation in molecular life sciences by strengthening the educational and mentoring skills of current and future academic staff. It offers interactive, certified workshops designed to upskill educators and empower effective teaching and supervision practices.

Current certified modules include:

1. Bridging Science and Teaching: Active learning strategies for Molecular Life Scientists

2. Building Career-Ready Scientists: Assessing, integrating, and reflecting on transferable skills in science education

3. Maximizing Mentorship Impact: Empower your PhD supervisory skills

Participants gain:
✅ Up-to-date educational knowledge and techniques
✅ Practical resources for improving teaching and supervision
✅ FEBS Academy Certification
✅ Access to a growing community of trained educators

Universities, institutes or departments that wish to have their staff take one of the FEBS Academy modules are welcome to get in touch.
For enquiries, please contact Prof. Ferhan G. Sağın, Chair of the FEBS Education and Training Committee, via the contact form.

FEBS Education Award

On its 60th anniversary year, FEBS launched the prestigious FEBS Education Award to highlight and honour an educator with a distinguished teaching and training career path in the field of molecular life sciences. Exemplary dedication to enhance the quality of student learning and experience along with a track record of applying impactful and innovative approaches in advancing learning and teaching within the realm of molecular life sciences are the main pillars. Through this award, FEBS not only aims to recognize and celebrate sustained and continued excellence and impact in molecular life sciences education and training but also to inspire others in fostering engaging, creative, and transformative educational experiences for students. Nomination is by a FEBS Constituent Society or self nomination along with a support letter of the Society.

Details for the 2026 call for nominations (deadline 15 February 2026) will be announced soon.

2024

The inaugural recipient of the FEBS Education Award (2024) was Prof. Robert A. Harris, nominated by the Swedish Society for Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology (SSBBMB). Read the news post about the recipient here.

2025

The FEBS Education Award 2025 is awarded to Professor Yoav Arava from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, recognizing his outstanding contributions to education and training in molecular life sciences. The award will be formally presented during the Opening Ceremony of the 49th FEBS Congress on July 5th, 2025. 

Read the news post about the recipient here.

An Education section in FEBS Open Bio

Following a proposal from the FEBS Education and Training Committee, the open access journal FEBS Open Bio began a new section devoted to original and valuable publications in biochemical and molecular life sciences education. The overall aim of this initiative is to foster good educational practices, stimulate the development of innovative teaching methods, and disseminate advice on educational techniques and resources. Find further details and recent articles, on the FEBS Open Bio education section.

Educational research articles submitted to FEBS Open Bio are exempt from article processing charges (APC).

You can also read the reflection article published after the FEBS Education and Training Conference, titled: ‘A white paper from the FEBS Education and Training Conference: challenges, opportunities, and action plans for transforming molecular life sciences education’, available here.

Find further details on the FEBS Open Bio education section.

An Educator channel on the FEBS Network

One section of the FEBS Network is dedicated to blog-style posts on teaching approaches and resources for lecturers and tutors in the molecular life sciences, as well as announcements on education activities.  If you would like to contribute a post to the FEBS Network Educator channel, please contact [email protected]

Resources and enquiries

For resources from FEBS Education events, please visit the FEBS Education Platform at: www.febs-edu.eu. The FEBS Education Platform is maintained by the FEBS Education and Training Committee and supplements general information on the FEBS website, serving to disseminate FEBS education activities and to share resources.

For enquiries on FEBS Education events (focused on pedagogical issues), please contact Prof. Ferhan G. Sağın, Chair, FEBS Education and Training Committee, via the Contact section of the website. For members of the Education and Training Committee, click here.