Our Work

Microbes are everywhere and affect almost all aspects of our lives

Microbiology answers big questions by giving us knowledge of very small things. Microbiologists are involved in addressing challenges that vary from urgent problems demanding immediate solutions, such as new and emerging diseases, through to long-term issues, like antimicrobial drug resistance, food security and environmental sustainability.  

When the discipline of microbiology is strong and intellectually vibrant, we have a better chance of finding solutions to these problems, and building a healthier, more sustainable and more prosperous future.

  • 75th Anniversary: showcasing why microbiology matters

    To celebrate our 75th anniversary in 2020, we invite members to nominate the discovery or event that best showcases why microbiology matters and helps us demonstrate the impact of microbiologists past, present and future.

  • 75th Anniversary: A Sustainable Future

    To mark this occasion, we are embarking on a policy project to demonstrate the value and raise the profile of microbiology in addressing the world’s biggest challenges. The focus will be on how microbiology can help to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), the wide ranging and ambitious global blueprint for achieving a sustainable future by 2030.

  • 75th Anniversary: microbiology images

    As part of the celebrations for our anniversary, we invite the microbiology community to submit images related to the microbiological world to help highlight how microbiology answers big questions by giving us knowledge of very small things. We welcome images of your science, of nature, of people, places and events that will inspire, inform and demonstrate how the study of microbes helps us to understand our world and our place within it.

  • 75th anniversary: Microbiology Book Club

    Inspired by Professor Jo Verran's Bad Bugs Book Club the Microbiology Society has launched a project in celebrating of our 75th anniversary, to encourage members of the microbiology community to get together and discuss microbiology in literature through their own book clubs.

  • Antimicrobial Resistance

    Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious global challenge for public health, food security and sustainable development.

  • The Microbiome

    The Microbiology Society identified a need for policy-makers and decision-makers to have access to appropriate evidence-based scientific information and expert opinion about research on microbiomes, and have developed a report on the topic.

Microbiome Policy Project


We brought together scientists, decision-makers and other stakeholders to identify the opportunities and challenges of emerging microbiome research for health, agriculture, environment and biotechnology. 

Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious global challenge for public health, food security and sustainable development. Microbes including bacteria, fungi and viruses are increasingly becoming resistant to antimicrobial drugs that were previously effective against them, making it more difficult to treat infections.

Microbiology and Brexit 


The Microbiology Society is working with our members and the wider scientific community to engage Government and Parliament on issues and needs for science releating to Brexit.