EMBL environmental research supported by ZEISS

For a better understanding of the impact of human activity on Europe's seas and coasts. 

A habitat rich in biodiversity – Europe's coasts and oceans are home to a wide variety of plants and animals and are essential for the stability and sustainability of larger ecosystems.

There is a growing awareness of the effects of human activities on natural habitats, pollution, the decline in biodiversity and climate change. To gain a better understanding of humans' impact on European coasts and oceans, ZEISS supports EMBL¹ on the unique research expedition TREC (Traversing European Coastlines) across Europe.

Mobile truck laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art technologies – including ZEISS microscopes – will visit over 100 sites in 24 European countries. Launched in April 2023, the TREC expedition is expected to last until the end of June 2024. Within this period, researchers will collect biological samples and environmental data on more than 120 land-sea transects. The expedition thus combines ocean research with parallel sampling of soil, sediment, shallow water and selected model organisms in different habitats.

The primary objective of TREC is the systematic and standardized sampling and multimodal acquisition of environmental metadata.

More information about the TREC expedition

Along the TREC route, in cooperation with schools, young people have the opportunity to delve into this topic.

Bringing together people from different countries and with expertise in different disciplines enables discussions about the challenges of the present and the future. Knowledge and progress are shared with the public through a variety of scientific workshops on a wide range of topics – from demonstrating the power of molecular biology in addressing societal challenges to highlighting the connection and interaction between humans and the planet.²

Inspiring the explorers of tomorrow and generating enthusiasm for science – this is also the goal of "A Heart for Science," an international ZEISS initiative that aims to get young people aged 12 to 18 interested in STEM. To raise awareness for the importance of science for sustainability among the younger generation, ZEISS employees are participating along the route as part of this cooperation.

More information on “A Heart for Science”