The 17th September is International Microorganism Day, an initiative that aims to raise awareness to the importance of microorganisms and to their role in health, environment and quality of life. Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência has joined the 2020 commemoration through several initiatives.

Visual communication has a tremendous impact, therefore an illustration was developed to portray the importance of microbiota’s diversity. The illustration above won the award for best #cartoon of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies.

 

See full illustration

 

In order to ensure accessible information, several scientists in the institute developed a tutorial video (in Portuguese) to explain how they work in the lab with some of the most fascinating microorganisms: bacteria!

 

 

We often associate microorganisms to the excessive antibiotic consumption and to antibiotic resistance. The video animation below, produced by IGC scientists, intends to raise awareness  and expand knowledge on this thematic. 

 

 

In Portugal, this initiative is promoted by Sociedade Portuguesa de Microbiologia, in collaboration with Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) with a diverse activities programme. September 17 was chosen to commemorate the day when Antonie van Leeuwenhoek sent a letter to the Royal Society of London, in 1683, with the first description of an unicellular organism.

 

 

Visit the event's website