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 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.

In this interview, John Tooze who was the Executive Secretary of EMBO from 1973 until 1994 reflects his work as a scientific coordinator at that time. He especially describes his perception of the foundation process of EMBL, the emergence of its institutional design and his introduction of the EMBO journal. Furthermore, he gives an assessment of the general challenges EMBL had and has to face.