Imagining FEBS in 2084: A Future Beyond Borders

Sixty years ago, the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) started as a small group aiming to connect scientists in Europe. Today, it's a global force with over 30, 000 members across 39 societies. To celebrate its 60th anniversary, FEBS Letters held a writing contest asking participants to envision scientific societies in 2084. The winning essay, penned by Yussuf Ali from Jagiellonian University in Poland, paints a future where FEBS breaks through geographical, interdisciplinary, technological, and financial barriers. In 2084, Ali imagines FEBS going beyond Europe, becoming a worldwide hub for life science excellence. This future FEBS isn't just about biochemistry and molecular biology; it's an interdisciplinary powerhouse, embracing physics, engineering, and more. Technology will play a massive role, with AI and virtual reality transforming how we collaborate and learn. Financial barriers will be a thing of the past, with open access to resources and knowledge. This vision isn't just about grand changes; it's about the little shifts too. How we communicate, how we teach, how we fund research—all these will evolve. But the core mission remains the same: to foster excellence and exchange in the life sciences.