Fostering microbial discovery for a better tomorrow through high-impact, interdisciplinary projects.
We live in the greatest age of discovery.
Ever.
We live in a world with over a trillion species of microbes. By harnessing the power of these microbes we have discovered life-saving, life-changing, and life-improving technology
valued at well over 300 billion dollars. This includes tools such as PCR and CRISPR genome editing technology, therapeutics like antibiotics and cholesterol-lowering medications, and even the technology we use to make coffee, chocolate, and fuel. All are made possible from microbes.
But nearly 90% of the microbial species on earth remain unknown, and with them the solutions they could provide. This is partially a tools problem. And it is partially a scientific literacy problem. The Microbe Institute is working to change this.
Welcome to the biological cosmos
The Microbe Institute is a nonprofit research institute dedicated to fostering microbial discovery for a better tomorrow through high-impact, often participatory research, art, and education initiatives
We achieve this by partnering with academics, nonprofits, for-profits, and individuals to co-create, accelerate, and amplify mission-aligned projects to scale their impact
Three Microbial Exploration Focus Areas.
Education. + Art. + Discovery.
Art has the power to provoke emotions, enchant dialogues, inspire new insights, and engage new audiences. It can make the abstract tangible and the incomprehensible sublime. Our diverse microbe art initiatives reveal that the microbial world offers the same mysteries as dinosaurs, the same expanse of space, and the unparalleled possibility of unexplored worlds. We believe in the power of art to transform conventional science discourse and understanding.
Microbes + Create Projects
Art
We create research initiatives to democratize microbial discovery, uncover unknown species, and conserve them for future generations. We help people around the world join in the process of scientific research. From those microbial discoveries, we can understand new truths about our world while creating new applications that make the world a safer, more sustainable, more exciting place. We believe everyone should have access to this adventure.
Microbes + Discover Projects
Discovery
We dedicate ourselves to ethically educating audiences to reveal that the microbial world is not one to fear, but one that offers hope for a better future. Our education initiatives use evidence-based science communication and education practices to excite audiences, create curiosity-provoking tools, and ensure effective storytelling practices.
Microbes + Learn Projects
Education
“The last 100 years have featured human solutions to microbial problems, but the next 100 years will feature microbial solutions to human problems.”
— Anne A. Madden, Ph.D. (Founder) TED 2017
Projects Featured By
Projects Presented At
Our Partners, Collaborators, & In-Kind Supporters
(Project Dependent)
National Geographic Society
Join us in the adventure.
We want to partner with you if you are a dreamer, a business person, a leader, a team-member, a scientist, an amateur, an explorer, an idealist, a big thinker, a details-person, an organization, an individual, an academic lab, a mom, someone who has a mom, someone who wears mom-jeans, a musician, a friend, a kind person, an introvert, an activator, a connector, an extrovert, an engineer, a creative, a hacker, a philanthropist, a student, a life-long learner, most-likely-not-a-robot, ok, we’ll probably work with select robots.
If you want to be a part of this adventure, but are not sure what that could look like, reach out and join our listserv.