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History

From our beginnings to today 

ScienceTree

The ScienceTree symbolizes the unity of the life sciences in Europe and captures the spirit and dedication of scientists worldwide: Community – Integration – Unity – Progress – Growth.

The ScienceTree project originated in the summer of 2002 when the idea of a tree to symbolize European integration was first suggested. The initial proposal was to plant a tree in soil originating from countries throughout the European Union to symbolize the importance of European integration for future generations and taking science as a leading example. 

Over the years, renowned European scientists, including three Nobel laureates and 16 EMBO Members, provided soil samples from their countries. By May 2014, 29 samples had been collected, 28 samples from the 28 countries forming the European Union and one sample from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). The latter was included as an example of European integration that benefits the life sciences and to also recognize the roles of Israel, Norway and Switzerland in the support of European research. 

The following people and countries participated in the project: 

AustriaBarry DicksonViennaNov 2005
BelgiumArsène BurnyGemblouxNov 2003
BulgariaPencho VenkovSofiaNov 2006
CroatiaSiniša VolarevićRijekaMay 2014
CyprusAnthi DrousiotouNicosiaSep 2006
Czech RepublicEva SykovaPragueSep 2006
DenmarkKristian HelinCopenhagenSep 2006
EMBL, GermanyFotis KafatosHeidelbergJuly 2002

EstoniaJaak Vilo/Maido RemmTartuJune 2005
FinlandLeena PeltonenHelsinkiAug 2003
FranceChristine Petit/François JacobParisJan 2004
GermanyChristiane Nüsslein-VolhardTübingenOct 2006
GreeceGeorge KolliasAthensNov 2006
HungaryTamás VicsekBudapestSep 2006
IrelandKen WolfeDublinNov 2006

ItalyIrene BozzoniRomeSep 2006
LatviaPaul PumpensRigaNov 2006
LithuaniaCeslovas VenclovasVilniusSep 2006
LuxembourgMarc DiederichLuxembourgFeb 2005
MaltaAlex FeliceMsidaNov 2006
The NetherlandsRonald PlasterkUtrechtNov 2003
PolandMaciej ŻyliczWarszawaOct 2006

PortugalMaria de SousaPortoNov 2006
RomaniaIonel HaiducClujNov 2006
SlovakiaSasha Zahradníková/Albert BreierBratislavaOct 2006
SloveniaVito TurkLlubljanaNov 2006
SpainAntonio García-BellidoMadridJuly 2004
SwedenGunnar von HeijneGöteborgAug 2005
United KingdomJohn SulstonHinxtonJuly 2003

Credits: Heidemarie Hurtl, Pierre Hilson, Art Pardee, Jan Bures, Michael Cusick, Tomi Mäkelä, Benoit Arcangioli, Tony Hyman, Jeff Dangl, Noel Matoff, Christos Sotiriou, Spyros Artavanis-Tsakonas, Chryssa Kanellopoulou, Philippe Lambin, Gianni Cesareni, Nadia Rosenthal, Aedin Culhane, Paul Harkin, Philippe Lamesch, Magdalena Żuberek, Marina Lencastre, Andrej Lupták, Luis Serrano, Anders Blomberg, Gheorghe Jebeleanu, Jacques Remacle, Jacqueline Vandenhaute, Marc Vidal

 

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the ScienceTree project over the years.