Celebrating International Microorganism Day
Oeiras, 11.09.2018
International Microorganism Day (since 2017) aims to raise awareness among young people and the society in general on the essential role that microorganisms play in our health, environment and quality of life, as well as of their biotechnological potential.
It is celebrated on 17th of September, the day in 1683 when the Dutch Anton van Leeuwenhoek – a merchant with no fortune or university degrees - sent a letter to the Royal Society of London, reporting the first description of a single-celled organism. This unlikely scientist displayed infinite curiosity, being a pacient and tireless worker, gifted with extraordinary power of observation. He built and developed his own microscopes (hundreds of them!), perfecting the lenses of his optical system and thus making it possible to obtain extraordinary amplifications, well ahead of his time, and to observe and describe, for the first time, microorganisms. In this famous letter, an exquisite description was made of the first observation of living bacteria present on the dental plaque, which was accompanied by drawings of the microorganisms and their movements. Finaly reaching Microscopic Life, the foundations of Microbiology were laid.
The 2018 edition of the International Microorganism Day will happen in several cities and include activities done by dozens of scientists across Portugal that are working on Microbiology. Open Laboratories, Do-It-Yourself experimental exhibits, Microbial product tasting stands, Workshops for high-school and university undergraduate students and Workshops for high-school teachers. Gathering all participants in Portugal and the remaining adherent countries, a streaming session will be organized with high-impact seminars, given by outstanding scientists, focused on hot topics in modern Microbiology.
ITQB NOVA will be present again this year, with hands on activities and invited lectures (see program bellow).
The 2nd International Microorganism Day is an initiative of the Portuguese Society of Microbiology, in collaboration with Ordem dos Biólogos, Ciência Viva Agency, the Portuguese Society of Ecology and the high patronage of the Portuguese National Commision for UNESCO.
ITQB NOVA participation (full program here)
Hands-on activities, Main Hall Central Building
9h30-18h30
- Cleaning the world with bacteria and light, Inês Cardoso Pereira Lab and Ricardo Louro Lab
- Antimicrobial materials, Cristina Silva Pereira Lab
- Watching fungi in our daily lives, Cristina Silva Pereira Lab
- Metals and yeast, a strong relationship, Claudina Pousada Lab
Talks, Salão Nobre Central Building
10h10 - The revolution of microscopy in cellular and molecular microbiology: Electron Cryomicroscopy, Célia Romão
14h45 - Bacterial Cell Division, Mariana Gomes de Pinho
Coordination: Lígia Saraiva Lab
