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Celebrated annually during the month of October in the UK, Black History Month recognises the contributions, culture and history of Black people. This year, we hear from Society Champion, Mariam Bhadmus (University of Huddersfield, UK), who has reflected on this year’s theme of ‘Honouring Our Communities’.

As part of the Society’s grant scheme, microbiologists who have been members for a year or more can apply for Society-Supported Conference Grants to help them in organising scientific conferences. That’s exactly what the organisers of the London Infection Network for ECRs (LINE) did ahead of organising their annual symposium for early career researchers (ECRs) in June 2026. Below, they reflect on the experience of organising the symposium and the importance of the event to the community it serves.

Our Champions Scheme allows members to promote microbiology and the Society in their local areas by providing funding and resources for a variety of activities. In November 2025, Champion Akpan Friday (Solina Centre for International Development and Research, Nigeria), organised an outreach project, to promote World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW), the Society and our Knocking Out AMR project. Below, Akpan Friday shares his insights and reflections on the activity.

Becoming a Microbiology Society Champion has provided me with a new and unique opportunity to think about how we share microbiology beyond the lab. So, when I was invited to see A Microscopic Odyssey at the Edinburgh Fringe, I was intrigued by the opportunity to experience microbiology, not within a lab or through reading a paper, but through theatre.

To mark the month, we spoke to Chien-Yi Chang, a lecturer in the School of Dental Sciences at Newcastle University, about his journey from studying Plant Pathology in Taiwan to researching how bacteria sense and respond to stress, the mentors and colleagues who have shaped his career, and what representation means to him.

Champion, Suchandra Gupta (SGT University, India), recently organised an event in a local village, to help spread the word about antimicrobial resistance and the gut microbiome to secondary school students. Below, Suchandra provides more details and reflects on the experience.

International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples takes place every year on 9 August, raising awareness of the needs of Indigenous population groups, who live in every region of the world and represent the greater part of humanity's cultural diversity. To mark the day this year, Skylar Ann Gay, member of our Members Panel and Member's Panel representative on the Building Communities Committee, reflects on her Indigenous roots and the influences of Indigenous practices woven into microbiology.

Our Champions Scheme allows members to promote microbiology and the Society in their local areas by providing funding and resources for a variety of activities. From October to December 2025, Champion, Damilola Adesuyi (One Health and Development Initiative, Nigeria), organised an outreach project, to promote World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW), the Society and our Knocking Out AMR project. Below, Damilola shares his insights and reflections on the activity.

South Asian Heritage Month takes place every July, to deepen understanding of South Asian heritage, promote intercultural dialogue and support a more equitable and inclusive society. To mark the awareness month this year, Society Champion, Dr Deepali Luthra (Stanford University, USA) reflects on her career in microbiology, this year's theme of ‘Unity in Diversity’ and what it means to build a career across countries, cultures and scientific disciplines.

World Refugee Day takes place annually on 20 June to honour the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. This year, Members Panel member, Sara Albagir Abdalla Mohammed (University of Khartoum, Sudan) discusses her experience of being displaced due to conflict, to highlight some of the challenges students and academics face.

Following a successful Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) session at Annual Conference 2026, organisers Arindam Mitra, Bruno Silvester Lopes, Catherine Lawler and Guerrino Macori reflect on learnings from the session’s workshop.

We are looking to appoint Editors to play a vital role in Access Microbiology, ensuring the publication of high-quality research and fostering engagement within the Microbiology community.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day highlights the importance of creating more accessible and inclusive digital and professional spaces for Disabled people, and those living with impairments. As part of this year’s awareness day, we spoke to Eukaryotic Division and Early Career Forum Executive Committee member, Abbie Storan, about their experiences navigating higher education, and a career in microbiology, as a researcher living with autism, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), dyspraxia and dyscalculia. From accessing support during their studies to building confidence within research spaces, Abbie reflects on the challenges, adjustments and opportunities that have shaped their journey in science.

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia is an annual event that takes place on 17 May to raise awareness of the discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community and celebrates its diversity. To mark the occasion this year, we hear from member, Bracken Johnston, about his experience of attending the 5th LGBTQ+ Networking Event with Trans and Nonbinary pre-meet, as part of Annual Conference 2026.

Our Champions Scheme allows members to promote microbiology and the Society in their local areas by providing funding and resources for a variety of activities. In November 2025, Champion, Bamidele Odumosu (University of Lagos, Nigeria), organised an outreach activity for high school students, to promote World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW), the Society and our Knocking Out AMR project. Below, Bamidele shares his insights and reflections on the activity.

The Microbiology Society, together with the British Mycological Society, is delighted to announce Stephen Dolan and Shafi Mondal of Clemson University, USA, as the joint winners of the 2026 Tony Trinci Award. 

As we approach Annual Conference 2026, where members of our community come together from all over the world, Prokaryotic Division member, Prerna Vohra (University of Edinburgh, UK), reflects on the importance of names.

The Microbiology Society was saddened to learn of the death of former President Professor Robin Weiss FRS, who passed away at the end of last month.

Our Champions Scheme allows members to promote microbiology and the Society in their local areas by providing funding and resources for a variety of activities. In Autumn 2025, Society Champion Georgios Efthimiou (Hull York Medical School, UK) organised a spooky story competition to coincide with World AMR Awareness Week and promote microbiology to the general public. Below, Georgios reflects on organising the competition.

Our Champions Scheme allows members to promote microbiology and the Society in their local areas by providing funding and resources for a variety of activities. In November 2025, Champion Nkechi Egbe (Nigerian Defence Academy, Nigeria) organised an outreach activity for school children in her local area, to promote World AMR Awareness Week, the Society and our Knocking Out AMR project. Below, Nkechi reflects on organising the activity.