From Bench to Monitor – Turning Advanced Life Science Courses into Virtual

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) provides advanced training for life science researchers in state-of-the-art technologies and fosters scientific exchange. The heart of the face-to-face advanced course programme is a strong focus on expert led hands-on training combined with theoretical and application lectures, as well as networking opportunities. Due to the pandemic, the face-to-face life science wet-lab and computational courses were converted into virtual formats. The courses are participant centred and focus on real scientific challenges and problems on the given topic. The need for these advanced molecular biology training courses is reflected by the high numbers of applications. Here we describe one solution to the virtual transformation of EMBL´s course programme, including the first reactions of our international audience and the effect for the future of cutting-edge advanced training courses for lifelong learning in the life sciences.