Plate to Poo

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in host health. However, public understanding of microorganisms is often dominated by a “germ-centric” perspective, where microbes are primarily associated with disease rather than beneficial biological functions. Improving public awareness of the gut microbiota is therefore important for promoting microbiology literacy and encouraging a more balanced understanding of microbial life. “Plate to Poo” is an interactive drop-in activity aimed at highlighting the relationship between diet and the gut microbiota. The activity demonstrates how dietary patterns in different countries can shape distinct microbial communities within the gut. Using colourful visuals and hands-on clue-solving challenges, participants explore how nutritional components of foods influence microbial growth and diversity. 

Credits: The Roslin Institute receives strategic investment funding from the BBSRC, and this activity was supported by the BBSRC Institute through Strategic Programme Grant funding (BBS/E/RL/230001A). For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.