Lisbon International Airport is conveniently located just 16km from the venue. There are multiple public transportation options, including subway, train, bus or taxis. From the closest train station, the venue is only a 5-10 minute walk.
Reaching the GIMM via Public Transport (Metro + Train; ~1h):
This is the recommended route. We suggest purchasing a “Navegante ocasional” card (0.5€) at any Metro station and loading it with 20€, which should cover your travel for the week. Please keep thereceipt so we can reimburse you, as a reward for choosing the more sustainable option.
1) At the airport, board the Metro’s Red line (“Linha Vermelha”) toward “São Sebastião”.
2) At “Alameda” station, change to the Green line (“Linha Verde”) toward “Cais do Sodré”.
3. At “Cais do Sodré” station, follow the signs to the CP train platforms and take the train toward “Cascais”.
4) Get off at the “Oeiras” station.
5) Walk 500m (5-6 minutes) to GIMM.
(Cost: ~2€ per trip with the rechargeable “Navegante” card).
Reaching the GIMM by Taxi or Ride-Hailing (Uber / Bolt):
Alternatively, you can take an official taxi from outside the arrivals area at Lisbon Airport. A ride to Oeiras typically takes about 20–30 minutes and costs roughly €30–€70 depending on traffic, time of day, and exact drop-off point. Ride-hailing apps (Uber or Bolt) offer similar travel times to taxis, and often are slightly more economical and give you a fixed fare up front. Please note that these transportation costs are not eligible for reimbursement.
Sustainability at the meeting
The EMBO Courses & Workshops Programme assesses meetings based on the proposal and implementation of sustainability measures. Meetings can earn points across a range of measures, with each measure assigned a point value from one to five. These points classify the meeting into one of three sustainability levels, reflecting the organizers' commitment to enhancing the sustainability of their event. More information on the EMBO Courses & Workshops Sustainability Badge can be found here.
Travel and Mobility:
Overseas speakers will deliver their talks virtually (from the USA and Japan), thereby avoiding long-distance travel and reducing associated emissions. Although the course is highly hands-on, it also provides options for remote participation, allowing broader access without requiring physical travel. Participants will receive local public-transport passes for the duration of the course. While international train access to Portugal remains limited, local transportation is efficient. Speakers will be encouraged to travel to Portugal by train where feasible, and students who choose train travel will receive a 50% discount on the registration fee. Two speakers traveling from within Portugal (150 km and 300 km from the venue) have already committed to traveling by train to Oeiras. Participants who must travel by air will be encouraged to offset their CO₂ emissions using airline-provided offset schemes. The additional cost will be reimbursed after the course. Information on reputable offset programs available at Cool Effect and at Gold Standard .
Catering:
Course social events include BBQs that follow established sustainable practices. The canteen provides vegetarian options daily, and one course day will feature vegetarian meals only. Coffee will be available alongside a continuous supply of locally sourced fruit and bread. Water fountains are available throughout the institute, and participants are encouraged to bring reusable bottles or mugs. Disposable promotional materials will be discouraged, and no promotional materials will be requested from EMBO.
Materials and Paper Use:
All course materials will be provided exclusively in digital format. Printed handouts have been eliminated and replaced by a cloud-based “live booklet” that is continuously updated during the course and allows participant contributions, substantially reducing paper consumption.
Sustainable Laboratory Practices:
Given the relevance of sustainability to tissue-processing workflows, the course will include a dedicated roundtable discussion on eco-friendly reagents and sustainable waste management. Practical recommendations for replacing hazardous reagents will be shared, and participants will be encouraged to exchange experiences and explore alternative approaches.
