The Schweizerische Kommission für Molekularbiologie (SKMB) promotes the training and continuous education of students and scientists in the general area of molecular biology in Switzerland. Every year, the SKMB sponsors a program of practical laboratory courses and scientific workshops. Some of the practical courses provide an introduction to basic techniques, while others offer familiarisation with more advanced or novel methodology. The theoretical workshops deal with different current problems in molecular biology, cellular biology and genetics, centred on particular topics or on specific model organisms. These meetings provide training for students, as well as opportunities for established researchers to discuss recent scientific results and to establish personal contacts and interactions between different laboratories.