Over the past 30 years since DEO’s founding, numerous scientists have launched and advanced their careers here. This has created a broad community of researchers who, despite being spread across institutes worldwide, still cherish their experiences at IEO and maintain strong ties to the department. In 2018, DEO held its inaugural Alumni meeting, bringing together 50 former PhD students, postdocs, and Group Leaders, now Principal Investigators or Institute Directors internationally, to reconnect and engage in scientific discussions.