2022 Microbes and Social Equity summer symposium

The symposium will be held over zoom on July 18 – 22, 2022, 12:30 – 16:00 EST. Registration is free, and anyone is welcome. The details of the program can be found here.

Symposium description: To understand a microbiome, you must learn about the bustling community of microorganisms and the complex ecosystems they live in, because one cannot exist without the other. So, too, does microbiome research rely on understanding the lives and ecology of humans, because there is no aspect of human life which does not involve microbes in some way. To become better microbiome researchers, we must understand social and environmental contexts which affect humans and, in many cases, prevent them from making choices which result in beneficial microbial exposures. This symposium will focus on developing research skills to create transformative research, including context-aware experimental designs, engaging community stakeholders as research partners, writing transdisciplinary papers, translating research into policy, and creating curriculum which melds microbes and social equity.

This year, we have an added bonus: I am hosting a 1-credit special topics grad course (AVS 590-0980: Research skills combining microbes and social equity) for the University of Maine students which revolves around the symposium and research skills development. I have attached the syllabus. Enroll soon, spots are limited!