Why Microbiologists Matter β a view from twitter
Posted on December 7, 2020 by Alex Kubiakowska-Welch
On 23–26 November 2020, the Microbiology Society hosted Why Microbiologists Matter: a digital celebration of the journeys of our members’, a one-week digital event series designed to explore the impact of microbiologists’ past, present and future. We’ve turned to Twitter to take a look back at the day and the event highlights.
Ahead of the event, much momentum was building up across the microbiology community.
Really looking forward to a great couple of days of microbiology. #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter is kicking off today!
— Liam Rooney (@lmr_1994) November 23, 2020
If you're tuning in, check out the #FlemingShowcase with awesome ECR speakers! I'll also be chatting about the #Mesolens for biofilm imaging tomorrow at 12:05.π§«π¬π https://t.co/jgkPF5fxlm
Our first talk was from 2020 Outreach Prize winners Sreyashi Basu and Sanjib Bhatka.
Great start of @MicrobioSoc #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter with the Outreach Prize Lecture by @SreyashiBasu2 & Sanjib Bhakta bridging the gap between lab research on MTB and public health awareness by using puppet shows, card games and more! A really incredible initiative. Go Joi Hok!
— Virtu Solano (@Virtu_Solano) November 23, 2020
A Bengali song to increase awareness about TB in india being sung live on #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter by @SreyashiBasu2 :) :)
— Dr. Sheba A-J (@ShebaAJ) November 23, 2020
awesome!
We were delighted to welcome microbiologist from across our community for the event. Especially those who could potentially become budding future scientists!
Impressive platform for the @MicrobioSoc #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter. Looking forward to some exciting talks over the next few days, from my living room with a baby on my lap.
— Seána Duggan (@SeanaDuggan) November 23, 2020
We continued the morning with an outreach training session with Dr Jamie Gallagher.
Hiya from Monday’s office. Started the day interviewing a community engagement practitioner in India, in the afternoon I dropped in to @MicrobioSoc’s #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter conference and now I’m back to back meeting with 4 different unis. Hope your day is kind β€οΈ pic.twitter.com/1yVvQdJZs0
— Dr Jamie Gallagher (@JamieBGall) November 23, 2020
Day 1 of #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter Amazing talk by @JamieBGall Demonstrate to ENGAGE!
— Rama Bhatia (@RamaBhatia17) November 23, 2020
Looking forward to the fantastic line up of talks in the afternoon session.
Thank you @MicrobioSoc for organising.
Following a short lunch break, we kicked off the Fleming Showcase with a short film introduced by David Sutchet, son of Jack Suchet who worked in the laboratory alongside Sir Alexander Fleming.
Watch our short video introducing the #FlemingShowcase with @David_Suchet talking about his father's work alongside Sir Alexander Fleming. #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter https://t.co/gilP6jbsSS
— Microbiology Society (@MicrobioSoc) November 23, 2020
Brilliant film from @MicrobioSoc narrated by @David_Suchet - who’s father worked with #Fleming - on #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter
— Paul Hoskisson π·π¬π§«π§¬πΈππ¦ (@PaulHoskisson) November 23, 2020
We also shared multiple videos of former Fleming Prize winners, who shared their experiences of what winning the prize meant to them.
We continue to celebrate the legacy of our previous #FlemingPrize winners today at #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter. Watch our short video to learn more about what winning the prize meant to them. https://t.co/AOUnDzrJYg #FlemingShowcase
— Microbiology Society (@MicrobioSoc) November 24, 2020
We then heard the five-minute thesis talks from our early career researchers.
ECM Forum member, @RebeccaJHall13 @cmc_rodrigues and @r_devine93 discuss their research in their five-minute theses, now at #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter. Find out more about them in their profiles, published on our website: https://t.co/bgUs9TkWsa #FlemingShowcase
— Microbiology Society (@MicrobioSoc) November 23, 2020
Great range of talks at the @MicrobioSoc Fleming Showcase so far. Although I’m not looking forward to watching my own pre-recorded talk later!! π #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter https://t.co/lbgc8docwR
— Dr. Rebecca Devine (@r_devine93) November 23, 2020
Thank you #FlemingShowcase for the opportunity to discuss my work and hear interesting science being done by others today. Looking forward to the rest of the week #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter https://t.co/pKLY31dazU
— Charlene Rodrigues (@cmc_rodrigues) November 23, 2020
Massive thanks for the insightful talk by @RebeccaJHall13 on metabolic and genetic adaptation of the tsetse fly as part of @MicrobioSoc's #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter, especially for introducing me to Wigglesworthia, my new favourite bacterial genus.
— Euan McDonnell (@EuancRNA) November 23, 2020
Most of us kickstarted day two of the event with a lovely cup of tea.
Got my big brew ready for a morning of top notch talks at the #flemingshowcase #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter β¦@MicrobioSocβ© pic.twitter.com/YlKJ2ySUDd
— Joey Shepherd (@microshep) November 24, 2020
Soon to be followed by some fascinating talks from leading scientists across the world.
Great introduction to quorum sensing in bacteria by Bonnie Bassler: First bacteria determine if they are alone, and second who their neighbors are (enemies or no) - and change gene expression as needed. #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter https://t.co/neslk2HMNh
— Dr. Sheba A-J (@ShebaAJ) November 24, 2020
Next up, Professor Eddie Holmes presents his #FlemingShowcase presentation, ‘The expanding virosphere’. Read more about @edwardcholmes: https://t.co/7nKTaKHvNU #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter
— Microbiology Society (@MicrobioSoc) November 24, 2020
Wait, what? Drones with petri dishes fly over humpback whales to sample the whale snot virome π³ π§«. Another engaging and illuminating talk at #flemingshowcase from @edwardcholmes #whymicrobiologistsmatter pic.twitter.com/vp2fys6h4q
— Joey Shepherd (@microshep) November 24, 2020
#WhyMicrobiologistsMatter @mjpallen you’re on my computer! Enjoying hearing you talk about your mummies again! pic.twitter.com/LVFbKQ7t3d
— Emma Denham π©π»π¦°π§¬π§«π¦ π©π¬π¬π₯³ (@Gingermicrobe) November 24, 2020
Followed by our early career researchers presenting their research.
We have four more five-minute theses up next at #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter, from @lmr_1994 @5yakovleva @ChrisProctorUUC and @rommelgestuveo Read their profiles on our website: https://t.co/bgUs9TkWsa #FlemingShowcase
— Microbiology Society (@MicrobioSoc) November 24, 2020
We concluded day two with a talk from the 2020 Fleming Prize Winner, Professor Edze Westra.
Massive congrats to @edzewestra for winning the 2020 Fleming Prize and for the great talk on the evolutionary dynamics of CRISPR systems in tandem with bacteriophages #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter @MicrobioSoc
— Euan McDonnell (@EuancRNA) November 24, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed listening to fantastic talks today, and giving my Fleming Lecture, in the #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter symposium. Thanks for great questions from the audience afterwards and thank you @microbiosoc for organizing this great event. More tomorrow!@ExeterMicrobes
— edze westra (@edzewestra) November 25, 2020
The third day of Why Microbiologists Matter showcased the research of finalists from the Sir Howard Dalton Young Microbiologist of the Year 2020 competition.
All set up for the Young Microbiologist of the year talks at the #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter event. I go first π¬π€π» pic.twitter.com/WaP6fx4x2G
— Ekaterina Buzun (@buzun_ekaterina) November 25, 2020
Really looking forward to Day 3 of #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter as we get to hear talks from the Young Microbiologists of the Year finalists. It’s a great opportunity to find out about the breadth of research @MicrobioSoc #ECR are doing. #ECMForum
— Alison MacFadyen (@Fads86) November 25, 2020
There's no better way to remind yourself of why you love science than listening to other ECRs enthuse about their own projects. Congratulations to all speakers on your great presentations this morning! #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter https://t.co/bFxLUU2FjH
— Tanya Horne (@MicroTanya) November 25, 2020
I don't envy the judges their task now. Excellent science on show during #YoungMicro20 Big congrats and well done to all the presenters. Really showed #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter
— Conor Feehily (@sligomicrobe) November 25, 2020
The Microbiology Society is delighted to announce that the winner of the Sir Howard Dalton Young Microbiologist of the year is @aisling_towell from @tcddublin. Congratulations! #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter pic.twitter.com/7rpKwWkiwJ
— Microbiology Society (@MicrobioSoc) November 25, 2020
Really enjoying this Q&A with the @MicrobioSoc Young Microbiologist of the Year finalists, I think it's working well and some great, thorough answers from all #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter
— Rebecca J Hall (@RebeccaJHall13) November 25, 2020
And we were thrilled to announce the winner – Aisling Towell from Trinity College Dublin.
The Microbiology Society is delighted to announce that the winner of the Sir Howard Dalton Young Microbiologist of the year is @aisling_towell from @tcddublin. Congratulations! #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter pic.twitter.com/7rpKwWkiwJ
— Microbiology Society (@MicrobioSoc) November 25, 2020
Day three concluded with a panel discussion with past Fleming Prize winners.
@ScouseMicrobe all set to co-host the Fleming Showcase Q&A at #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter @MicrobioSoc #ECMForum pic.twitter.com/M9b70OrWxT
— Conor Feehily (@sligomicrobe) November 25, 2020
Thank you to all who attended and participated in Why Microbiologists Matter.
It was fantastic to see researchers from across the #microbiology community discussing their research at #WhyMicrobiologistsMatter over the past few days. We were proud to showcase the work of both established senior scientists and #ECMs. Thank to all who attended! pic.twitter.com/Zb0VTWealX
— Microbiology Society (@MicrobioSoc) November 26, 2020