Programme overview

The EMBL Teacher Ambassador Programme supports teacher trainers, school teachers and informal educators, and the institutions with which they are associated, to provide professional development courses for teachers in an EMBL member state, in the local language. In this way, the host organisations and EMBL Teacher Ambassadors act as a gateway to EMBL’s professional teacher training for teachers in their home country. The programme also enables the Ambassadors and their host organisations to disseminate information about EMBL’s educational activities. The EMBL Teacher Ambassador Programme 2023-2025 is run in collaboration with Merck.

Each year, Ambassadors take part in a dedicated train-the-trainer course, which prepares them to train other educators and provides them with teaching materials and training resources on the topic of the course. Course topics are expected to vary from year to year, and courses on selected topics may be repeated based on popular demand.

By participating in a train-the-trainer course on a specific topic, participants will become certified EMBL Teacher Ambassadors for a period of 18 months and will be entitled to run free teacher training courses, called EMBLconnect LearningLABs, based on the successful EMBL LearningLAB model. An additional certificate will be issued for each EMBLconnect course delivered. Ambassadors will receive guidance from EMBL’s Science Education and Public Engagement Office on how to set up and run an EMBLconnect LearningLAB at least once a year on the topic of the train-the-trainer course.

In addition, Ambassadors regularly disseminate relevant events and educational resources to their teaching and learning communities in their home countries through their host organisation’s channels and other opportunities such as teachers’ conferences. Ambassadors are provided with ready-to-share promotional packages, together with guidelines for implementation and a timeline for promoting EMBL activities.

Eligibility 
Qualified teachers, informal educators and teacher trainers based in an EMBL member state can apply to become EMBL Teacher Ambassadors to promote EMBL educational activities and run an EMBLconnect LearningLAB course on selected course topics.

EMBLconnect scheme

The EMBLconnect scheme allows EMBL Teacher Ambassadors to run professional development training courses on selected course topics based on the successful EMBL LearningLAB model with the support of their host institution in their home countries in the 18-month period after the train-the-trainer course. These so-called EMBLconnect LearningLAB courses are part of EMBL’s portfolio of teacher training courses, complementing those directly run by the EMBL Science Education and Public Engagement Office. The EMBLconnect LearningLABs offer participants access to free, high-quality life sciences professional development tailored to the needs of their school system and in their local language, thus enabling a wider community of teachers to benefit from EMBL’s teacher training. The EMBL Teacher Ambassadors work closely with the EMBL Science Education and Public Engagement office to prepare the EMBLconnect course which can be delivered face-to-face or virtually. The Ambassadors and their host institution are responsible for the delivery of the course. EMBL provides professional support to the Ambassadors in developing the training agenda and provides teaching and learning materials to cover the scientific and pedagogical aspects of the course, as well as feedback templates for course evaluation. Depending on the available funds, a small EMBL budget may be available to cover a portion of the costs of an EMBLconnect LearningLAB, which can be used for expenses such as printing or basic catering.

Criteria for EMBLconnect LearningLAB courses

Target group: National, regional or local school in-service teachers, student teachers/teachers to be, or teacher trainers, teaching or training to teach natural sciences subjects

Goal of course: To support the professional development of teachers in the c

Course fee: The course is free of charge for participants

Aim of course: 

• To provide participants with an update on current scientific developments in the field of the course theme
• To support teachers in transferring science to the classroom
• To facilitate the exchange and networking between educators at local, regional or national level
• To promote EMBL’s educational activities

Certificate: EMBLconnect LeraningLAB participants receive a joint course certificate signed by EMBL and the Ambassador’s host organisation.

Programme benefits

Benefits for the Ambassador host institution

• Enter an educational partnership with Europe’s leading laboratory for the life sciences, EMBL
• Receive a certificate for providing continuous professional training for educators in partnership with EMBL on a selected course topic
• Benefit from using an established framework for teacher training linked to EMBL’s cutting-edge life science research in a selected life science topic through the course content and support meetings
• Receive visibility for their commitment to making a meaningful contribution to the professional development of teachers in their home country while promoting and hosting EMBLconnect LearningLABs 
• Expand their network of schools and educators
• Get priority booking in EMBL’s World of Molecular Biology School Programme

Benefits for the EMBL Teacher Ambassador

• Gain first-hand insight into EMBL’s latest research and training activities in a selected course topic

• Receive high-quality professional development training in a selected course topic as part of an established and recognised programme
• Benefit from using an established framework for teacher training linked to EMBL’s cutting-edge life science research in a selected course topic
• Receive visibility for your commitment to making a meaningful contribution to the professional development of teachers in their home country while promoting and running EMBLconnect LearningLAB
• Receive certificates as an EMBL Teacher Ambassador and an EMBLconnect LearningLAB trainer in recognition of your efforts to support fellow educators in their professional development
• Expand your professional network and become part of a dedicated international community of EMBL Teacher Ambassadors
• Get priority when applying for CPD teacher training offered by EMBL

Benefits for EMBLconnect LearningLAB participants

• Receive high-quality training on selected topics through an established and recognised programme in their local language
• Receive the latest insights into selected topics from EMBL scientists
• Access to and training in the implementation of ready-to-use hands-on teaching materials
• Expand their professional network of educators
• Receive a certificate of participation in a continuous professional development course from EMBL and the Ambassador host organisation
• Learn about other training activities and resources offered by EMBL

Benefits for European countries/EMBL member states

Access to high-quality training on a selected course topic for educators relevant to the country’s education system and teachers’ needs, based on an established and recognised training brand with direct input from cutting-edge research of EMBL

Programme 2023/2024

The EMBL Teacher Ambassador programme for 2023/2024 is focused on the topic of ecology. In September 2023, a dedicated train-the-trainer course took place, preparing 20 educators from 11 countries to deliver training for their local communities of educators. Find out more about the current programme below.