We would like to welcome you to attend the 2ndAerosols and Microbiology conference. The combination of aerosols and microbiology continue to make headlines impacting on our everyday lives from public health and agricultural security to climate concerns. Building on the success of 2024, the conference operates at the interfaces between the physics, chemistry and biology of bioaerosols exploring the fundamentals of source characterisation, bioaerosol transport, dispersal and transmission, environmental detection, control and mitigations, and risk modelling.
Underpinning the conference is a focus on novel aerobiological concepts, new research tools and cutting-edge methodology such as: metagenomics in biosurveillance, impacts of air quality on respiratory infection, developments in detection and mitigation technologies, advances in in vitro airway models for exposure assessment, and risk from surfaces through deposited bioaerosol. We anticipate another set of stimulating sessions to support fresh collaborations and share knowledge between researchers in academia and industry in UK and abroad spanning public and animal health, agriculture and biodefence.
Organisers:
• Richard Thomas (Dstl, UK)
• Natalie Garton (The University of Leicester, UK)
• Simon Clark (UKHSA, UK)
• Charlotte Reston (Pirbright Institute, UK)
• Simon Gubbins (Pirbright Institute, UK)
• Jonathan Reid (University of Bristol, UK)
• Malin Alsved (Lund University, Sweden)
• Paul Dabisch (Battelle National Biodefense Institute (BNBI), Frederick, MD)
• Shanna Ashni Ratnesar-Shumate (Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, MD)
Central themes for the conference remain: aerosol source, transport and dispersal, sampling and detection, respiratory infection and airborne transmission of infection, pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical mitigations, risk modelling and policy. These will be built from submissions targeted against the exciting topical subjects below, but please note any relevant bioaerosol research will be welcomed.
Indoor air quality and the built environment: Whether hospitals, farm barns or our homes, bioaerosols play an important role, and understanding and modelling how they form and transport influences detection and mitigations (e.g. filtration, far-UVC). The contribution of biofilms to aerosol formation is an increasing area of interest.
Air pollution and climate effects: Environmental particles and gaseous pollutants can have far reaching impacts. This novel area explores the role of primary and secondary biological particles and their influence on atmospheric composition, the environment and health including the potential for altering bacterial phenotype, infection potential and increasing antimicrobial resistance through transport of antimicrobial resistance genes.
Microbial transmission between individuals and from aerosol to surfaces and beyond: A hugely complex topic full of exciting research spanning source, transport, persistence, deposition, and then how microbes move further through resuspension (e.g. on dust, fibres or fur), physical touch or other mechanisms. Research exploring all elements are welcomed including mitigations. Characterisation of bioaerosol source in natural transmission scenarios is a key research gap.
Biosurveillance of microbes in the environment: From specific detection to the ever-increasing role of bioaerosol metagenomics, detection and monitoring is vital to initiating mitigations and enabling appropriate policy and risk management. The contribution of respiratory and aerosol microbiomes to antimicrobial resistance will be explored alongside cutting-edge research on bioaerosol detection and monitoring.
Innovative bioaerosol techniques to support risk assessment: Covering bioaerosol characterisation, aerosol system development and standardization and the rising use of in vitro aerosol deposition methodologies (e.g. organ on a chip). Application of these along with molecular assays and imaging tools to better understand microbial aerosol survival and infection and support improved risk assessment.
Agricultural pathogens – impacts on plant, animals and humans: Plant and animal pathogens cause huge economic loss, whilst zoonotic pathogens with pandemic potential, such as H5N1 influenza, keep re-emerging. Novel insights into the spread, detection, mitigation and risk modelling of these pathogens is welcomed.
Interface of microbiology with respiratory physiology, medicine and computation: Novel research insights into how anatomy and physiology impacts on respiratory disease and airborne microbial transmission. Further, novel therapeutic approaches and in vivo models will be discussed along with pioneering methods to rapidly develop next-generation therapeutics and diagnostics against bioaerosol infections.
Risk modelling and policymaking for bioaerosols: Fresh insights from the combination of aerosol physics and chemistry with aerobiology will be applied to many different models of varying fidelity. Key elements will include atmospheric transport and dispersal modelling of bioaerosols in indoor or outdoor environs, and extrapolative models between animals and humans. Anticipate new methods to understand the bioaerosol stakeholder community and define policy.
Further information will be announced in the build-up to the meeting on our social media channels. Follow us on Bluesky and X @MicrobioSoc using the hashtag #Aerosols2026. We will also be sharing stories on Instagram throughout the event.
No session result(s).
No lecture result(s).
The programme of invited keynote speakers (TBC) for the meeting includes:
Prof. Cath Noakes - University of Leeds, UK
Presentation Topic: Indoor air quality/ transmission
Dr. Richard Leggett - Earlham Institute, UK
Presentation Topic: Biosurveillance metagenomics/ crop protection
Dr. Caroline Duchaine - Université Laval, Canada
Presentation Topic: Bioaerosols, climate and ARGs
Prof. Adam Finn - University of Bristol, UK
Presentation Topic: Interface of respiratory physiology, medicine and therapeutics
Prof. Ben Cowling - The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Presentation Topic: Respiratory disease transmission modelling
Dr. David Schmale - Virginia Tech, USA
Presentation Topic: Plant pathogens/ local and regional dispersal
Registration for 2nd Aerosols and Microbiology: Bridging disciplines to advance health & environmental sustainability will open shortly.
Microbiology Society members get heavily subsidised registration fees for Annual Conference, Focused Meetings and other Society events – both online and in-person. Join now to enjoy these discounts and many other opportunities that are designed for microbiologists at all stages of their career.
All speakers and poster presenters will be attending in-person.
Admission to break and lunchtime information and career development sessions
Full access to scientific poster sessions
Tea and coffee breaks, Lunch during the event period and Conference Dinner which will be held on one of the evenings.
Access to an online abstracts book
Certificate of Attendance (on request)
Access to CPD Points
Registration confirmation
Upon registration, you should receive an automated confirmation email. Please contact [email protected] if, after 24 hours, this has not been received.
All registration fees must be paid in full BEFORE arrival at the conference. Any outstanding registration fees must be paid before admittance will be granted to the conference.
Refunds are not provided. However, substitutions of attendees can be made at any time before the event by contacting [email protected].
Abstract submission for the 2nd Aerosols and Microbiology: Bridging disciplines to advance health & environmental sustainability conference will open on Monday 3 November 2025 and close at 23:59 GMT, Friday 30 January 2026.
Both members and non-members of the Microbiology Society are welcome to submit an abstract for the meeting. All offered talks presentations and posters will be selected from the abstracts submitted. Once submissions are closed, they will be reviewed by the session organisers and submitters will be notified of the outcome from Early March 2026. By submitting an abstract to this conference, you are indicating to the session organisers your commitment to attend the event.
Abstracts are welcome for any of the following topics:
Abstracts must be a maximum of 250 words. The Society has produced a guide to give delegates some tips on how to write a great abstract, which can be downloaded below:
Please note that the abstract is the only information session organisers use when deciding whether to accept your work for presentation as an offered oral or poster. If accepted, it will also be published in the abstract book for the meeting – so think carefully about what needs to be included.
The conference will take place at the Thomas Ambler Suite| Leeds Marriott Hotel.
View map
Leeds Marriott Hotel is located at 4 Trevelyan Square, Boar Lane, Leeds LS1 6ET.
The property is located in Leeds City Centre, just a short walk from Leeds Railway Station, in the heart of the vibrant shopping and business district. It is ideally situated near the Trinity Leeds shopping centre and the historic Leeds Corn Exchange.
Directions
Car Parking:
Leeds Marriott Car Park:
Public car parking available at Trinity Car Park for Hotel guests rates from £17.50 and in the city, max H 1.98m. 0.1 Miles
Trinity Leeds Car Park:
Trinity Leeds, Albion Street, Leeds LS1 5AT
5-minute walk to the hotel. Chargeable.
Q-Park Sovereign Square:
Sovereign Square, Swinegate, Leeds LS1 4AG
3-minute walk to the hotel. Chargeable.
By train:
LEEDS STATION – 0.2 miles – 4 minute walk
Exit the station via the main entrance onto New Station Street. Walk straight ahead towards Boar Lane. Cross the road onto Trevelyan Square and the hotel will be on your left.
By bus:
Nearby stops include:
1, 4, 14, 19, 40, 49, 50A, 72, 757 (Leeds Station Interchange or Boar Lane).
Leeds Bradford Airport :
Distance From Property: 8.3 Miles
Accommodation
Leeds Marriott Hotel offers a limited number of rooms with breakfast at a discount for conference delegates for the nights of 9th to 11th June 2026. Details to be announced.
Childcare Services
The hotel does not offer childcare services. However, if needed, you can find local babysitters and registered childcare providers nearby via childcare.co.uk.
Applications for the Society Events Grant to support members attending 2nd Aerosols and Microbiology: Bridging disciplines to advance health & environmental sustainability will open soon.
Grants will act as contribution towards registration, travel, and accommodation expenses only.
Eligibility requirements:
Eligible membership categories:
Minimum membership period required:
A minimum membership period of one year and two consecutive membership payments is required. Postgraduate and Undergraduate with three year memberships will need to have completed one year memberships will need to have completed one year (three-year membership payment constitutes consecutive payment).
Please read all information carefully on the Society Events Grant page before submitting an application for funding.
Early Career Researcher Forum co-chairing scheme
If you wish to be considered for a session co-chairing role at 2nd Aerosols and Microbiology: Bridging disciplines to advance health & environmental sustainability (see website for details).
You must fit the Society’s criteria for an Early Career Researcher/ Microbiologist to be considered for the co-chairing scheme. The Society considers you Early Career if you are a student at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, within five years of appointment to your first position after your highest qualification earned or if you identify as a member in the early stages of their career.
To apply for the scheme, please complete the section in the abstract submission form.
Best Poster Prize:
Microbiology is pleased to provide a 'Best Poster' prize to one scientific poster presented at the 2nd Aerosols and Microbiology conference. The winners will be selected by Microbiology's Editor-in-Chief and the winner will receive a small cash prize. All posters displayed at the meeting will be automatically entered for the prize.
Exhibition and sponsorship opportunities are available for this conference. For more information, please get in touch with [email protected]
Aerosols and Microbiology ITE 2026
How to... write a great abstract