This is an interview with the physicist and mathematician Matthias Mann who has been group leader at EMBL Heidelberg from 1992 to 1997. In this interview, Matthias Mann explains his research in the area of mass spectrometry and proteomics he was involved in at EMBL. This interview contains reflections of Matthias Mann concerning his relationship to other researchers at EMBL, his impression of the different Directors General Furthermore, you will find some information about Mann's current work in clinical contexts as well as some advice about assembling a research group and about computation in biology in general.

This is an interview with the French cell and molecular biologist Daniel Louvard who was Head of a research group at EMBL Heidelberg from 1978 until 1982. In this interview, Daniel Louvard explains why he decided to work at EMBL as a postdoc and how he developed his research on epithelial functions, on membrane trafficking and on producing monoclonal antibodies at that time. Furthermore, Daniel Louvard describes the working environment at EMBL, how he later became Head of Unit at the Pasteur Institute and his scientific work after his time at EMBL, especially his foundation of the ATIP-avenir program.

This is an interview with Alan Sawyer who started to work as a technical assistant at EMBL Heidelberg in 1990 in Thomas Kreis' and Eric Karsenti's group. In this interview, Alan Sawyer describes how he started working in the UK before coming to EMBL, how he developed his methods of producing antibodies at EMBL Heidelberg and how he came to work on microarrays at EMBL after 2001 as well as on one of the Core Facilities after 2008. Furthermore, this interview contains some anecdotes of Alan Sawyer's life in Heidelberg and how he perceives the process of professionalization of EMBL over time.

This in an interview with Rosemary Wilson who was responsible for scientific training and later became the outreach officer at the EMBL Hamburg. In this interview, Wilson describes how she was able do define her role in the field of scientific communication. She explains the evolution of editorial processes at EMBL as she perceived them and gives some examples as well. Wilson also makes an assessment of the dynamics of communication in terms of the different EMBL sites and describes the "Night of Science" in Hamburg she helped to organize.

This is an interview with the electrical engineer André Gabriel who started working at EMBL Grenoble in 1973. In this interview, André Gabriel explains how, through his contacts to Marc Chabre and Vittorio Luzzatti, molecular biology came to his professional interest. He describes how he witnessed the installation of the EMBL site in Grenoble and of its instruments as well as his impression of the first two DGs, Sir John Kendrew and Lennart Philipson. Besides that, André Gabriel also mentions his move to EMBL Heidelberg where he stayed until 1984.

This is an interview with Nadia Rosenthal who has been the Head of Mouse Biology Unit at EMBL Monterotondo (Rome) and Senior Scientist at the Developmental Biology Unit at EMBL Heidelberg from 2001 until 2011. In this interview, Nadia Rosenthal describes how she came to the position as Head of the Mouse Biology Unit at EMBL Rome and how she was involved in establishing the Mouse Biology program there. The working conditions at the EMBL in Rome are part of this interview as well as Nadia Rosenthal's contribution in relation to making Australia the first associate member of EMBL.

This is an interview with the evolutionary developmental biologist and Nobel Prize-winner Eric Wieschaus who was a group leader at EMBL Heidelberg between 1978 and 1981. In this interview, Eric Wieschaus describes how he became interested in flies an how he and Christiane Nüsslein-Vollhard came from working with Walter Gehring to starting at EMBL. Furthermore, Eric Wieschaus gives an insight of his daily work at EMBL, especially concerning mutagenesis and later zygotically active lethals screening. He also describes the cooperation with the EMBL facilities and he gives a special insight into his impressions of EMBLs first DG, Sir John Kendrew.

This is an interview with the 2001 Nobel Prize Winner Tim Hunt who became member of EMBO in 1978. In this interview, Tim Hunt gives an insight of his career as a biochemist before joining EMBO, especially his work on S 35 Methionine. He also describes his connections with other scientists at EMBL since 1978. Furthermore, Tim Hunt reflects the meaning of the Data Library and the role of EMBO and the EMBO journal in general.

This is an interview with the molecular biologist Joan Steitz. In this interview, Joan Steitz describes the stations of her scientific career in connection to her work on RNA phages. She also explains how she came in touch with EMBL through the SAC meetings and her scientific interest into snRNPs. Furthermore, Joan Steitz gives an insight into her impressions of the first three DGs and of female scientists at EMBL.

This is an interview with Alan Robinson who is part of the Industry Programme of the EBI in London. In this interview, Alan Robinson describes the process of how he came to the EBI. He describes the differences between the commercial and the academic research sector and how the interaction between the EBI and industry took place. Furthermore, Alan Robinson talks about how the use of biological data in scientific research began. He also gives an insight of his later work as team leader of the Industry Programme, of the relations between the EBI and EMBL Heidelberg and of MitoMiner