Environmental Microbiology: Microbes as Safeguards of the Environment

This workshop highlights the vital role that microbes play in maintaining Earth’s delicate balance and addresses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. With a history dating back billions of years, Earth’s interconnected systems—the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere—rely on solar and internal energy sources. However, human activities, such as rapid population growth, resource exploitation, and deforestation, endanger these systems and contribute to climate change.

Microbes, the most abundant life forms on Earth, thrive across various habitats and have a significant impact on sustainability. The workshop delves into microbial biodiversity, evolution, and ecosystems, shedding light on their potential to create a more sustainable planet. Cuttingedge research, using DNA sequencing and advanced techniques, unveils the significance of microbial diversity in ecosystem function.

The workshop addresses the critical issue of soil health and its role in sustainable agriculture. Soil microbiota, a vast bioreactor, plays a pivotal role in nutrient cycling, waste recycling, and ecosystem services. Microbes in soil enhance plant health and productivity through processes like nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization. To combat soil crises and greenhouse gas emissions, strategies include treating soil as a patient and promoting global coordination.

Understanding microbial traits, such as communication and physiology, offers insights into predicting and modelling microbial behaviour. The workshop explores how synthetic biology can mitigate environmental pollution and aid in recycling agriculture and industrial waste, leading to sustainable practices.

Zoonosis and pandemic preparedness are also discussed. The workshop highlights the zoonotic origin of COVID-19 and the importance of surveillance at the animal-human interface to prevent future viral spill-overs. Addressing deforestation and climate change-induced animal migration, the workshop stresses the need for warning systems and criteria for assessing zoonotic virus virulence.

The proposed workshop brings together global experts in microbial ecology to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange. By showcasing the multifaceted contributions of microbes to environmental safeguarding, this event aligns with the United Nations’ sustainability goals. It offers a platform for emerging researchers to connect, learn, and contribute to solving pressing global challenges through microbiology.