Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)

Frontier discoveries often happen at the boundaries between disciplines!

At the EMBO Workshop Cellular Evolution, HFSP Chief Scientific Officer Guntram Bauer participated in a panel discussion on funding and publishing interdisciplinary research and presented HFSP's approach to supporting bold, high-risk research that brings together scientists from diverse backgrounds.

These conversations are essential as science becomes increasingly collaborative. Thank you to the organizers for creating a forum to discuss the evolving landscape of interdisciplinary science!

What time is it 1,700 meters below the ocean surface? ⏰🌊

HFSP-supported researchers discovered that deep-sea mussels living at hydrothermal vents maintain internal biological clocks synchronized with tidal cycles, even in complete darkness.

Their findings reveal that life in the deep ocean is far more structured and rhythmic than previously thought.

On World Ocean Day, explore how scientists are decoding the hidden rhythms of the deep sea.

📖 Read the full Science Digest story: https://bit.ly/4g19F76

What questions will shape the HFSP Frontier Workshop “Bridging Fossil Records and Modern Science – Integrative Approaches to Evolution”?

The workshop will explore four key themes:

🦴 Fossil Heritage and Accessibility: Challenges and opportunities for digital transformation
🧬 From Paleo-Genomics to Paleo-Phenomes: Reconstructing evolutionary narratives
🤖 Computational and Mathematical Challenges: The role of AI in completing the fossil record and simulating morphological evolution
🌍 Communication and Integration: Linking natural history and philosophy, and communicating science across disciplines and to the public

Together, these themes will guide discussions on how fossil records, modern technologies, and interdisciplinary approaches can open new perspectives on the history of life.

Are you planning to participate?

📣 Abstract submission deadline: 10 June 2026
🔗 Submit your abstract: https://zurl.co/kJHvq
📝 Registration is open: https://zurl.co/MDXS0

Coral reefs do not just shelter fish and marine life. 🪸 They also host extraordinary microbial worlds!🦠

HFSP-supported researchers mapped coral microbiomes across 99 Pacific reefs and found hundreds of previously undescribed microbial species with remarkable biosynthetic potential.

These microbes may hold clues for future medicines and biotechnologies, reminding us that protecting reefs also means preserving an irreplaceable reservoir of molecular diversity!

🔬 Learn more: https://zurl.co/HpsmA