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Microbes and Us

Microbes and Us

By Federation of European Microbiological Societies

Welcome to our podcast, Microbes and Us, brought to you by the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS). Our FEMS communication gurus, Eleni Koursari and Joseph Shuttleworth, bring into each monthly episode guests from the microbiology field discussing topics from every corner of the microbial world. Whether you are a lover of microbes, a scientist, or you just want to join our fun microbiology community, then this is the podcast for you.
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Episode 17 | The Portable Microbiology Laboratory: Reducing Water-Borne Disease Through Community Led Testing in Kenya

Microbes and UsFeb 21, 2023

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35:40
Episode 25 | Article Award Winner, FEMS Microbiology Letters: Barbara Heard
Mar 05, 202427:03
Episode 24 | Astronauts, Microbiomes, and the Ultimate Diet
Jan 23, 202416:08
Episode 23 | A Farewell Conversation With Hilary Lappin-Scott as FEMS President

Episode 23 | A Farewell Conversation With Hilary Lappin-Scott as FEMS President

In this episode, Hilary Lappin-Scott discusses her time as FEMS President with host Joseph Shuttleworth as her 4-year term comes to an end. She runs through some of her favourite moments and most difficult challenges while leaving us with her final message to the microbiology community.

Dec 11, 202323:44
Episode 22 | Nature's Palette, Creating Beauty With Moulds In Art

Episode 22 | Nature's Palette, Creating Beauty With Moulds In Art

Join our host Corrado Nai, as he explores the fascinating world of artists who create marvellous and inspiring artworks using moulds as subjects or as materials. Textile artist, Lizan Freijsen, crafts 'fungal carpets', while the artist-scientist duo, Ofer Grunwald & Nir Osherov, have pioneered 'fungal pointillism' as their artform. Listen to their examples of fungal creativity to discover the challenges and opportunities in creating beauty with moulds in this episode. Tune in now!

Oct 04, 202327:27
Episode 21 | International Microorganism Day 2023
Sep 07, 202310:28
Episode 20 | Waterborne Diseases, Education And FEMS2023 With Rita Colwell
May 24, 202313:47
Episode 19 | Microbiology Literacy, Weaponizing Microbes for Peace and FEMS2023 with Kenneth Timmis
Apr 11, 202318:59
Episode 18 | Microbes and Food with The Microbe Moment

Episode 18 | Microbes and Food with The Microbe Moment

Podcast host Eleni Koursari, welcomes the hosts of the microbiology podcast The Microbe Moment! Jonathan Mitchell and Tess Deyett join our conversation about microbes in our food systems! We talk about how microbes are involved in healthy crops, home brewing, chocolate production, and mushrooms. 

More about the Microbe Moment - https://www.microbigals.com/the-microbe-moment-science-podcast

Mar 16, 202321:37
Episode 17 | The Portable Microbiology Laboratory: Reducing Water-Borne Disease Through Community Led Testing in Kenya
Feb 21, 202335:40
Episode 16 | Coral Reefs, Climate Change and Conservation with Jennifer Matthews

Episode 16 | Coral Reefs, Climate Change and Conservation with Jennifer Matthews

Our episode host Eleni Koursari, welcomes Jennifer Matthews, Postdoctoral Research Fellow from the University Technology Sydney, Australia. They talk about coral reefs, how they have been affected by climate change and what can we do to conserve them for future generations.

Read Jennifer's interview for the FEMS Microbes best presentation prize at JAMS11 - https://fems-microbiology.org/about_fems/network-and-activities/awards/poster-oral-presentation-prizes/fems-microbes-presentation-prize-jennifer-matthews/

Jan 18, 202322:23
Episode 15 | BacteriaGame: Learning Clinical Microbiology Through Play
Dec 16, 202224:12
Episode 14 | Science in Fiction: the #FEMSmicroBlog Writing Competition Winner, Gavin Douglas
Oct 18, 202229:20
Episode 13 | Six Recent Microbe Developments for International Microorganism Day
Aug 24, 202214:29
Episode 12 | How Do Bacteria Fight Their Viruses? With Dr Aude Bernheim

Episode 12 | How Do Bacteria Fight Their Viruses? With Dr Aude Bernheim

In this episode, host, Joseph Shuttleworth, is joined by Dr Aude Bernheim, researcher at INSERM (French National Institute of Health and Medical Research), as they discuss the fascinating field of bacterial anti-viral mechanisms. From the rise of CRISPR for wide-scale genome editing, to the huge range of new anti-viral mechanisms discovered only very recently, this podcast takes you on a whirlwind tour through the evolutional battles going on between bacterial, phages, and genomic elements and the many unknowns that are still unanswered. 

Jul 12, 202225:28
Episode 11 | Research Crimes with Science Integrity Detective, Elisabeth Bik

Episode 11 | Research Crimes with Science Integrity Detective, Elisabeth Bik

In this episode, host Eleni Koursari, chats with Dr Elizabeth Bik, science consultant, advocator of science integrity and FEMS Special Merit Awardee. Our discussion takes multiple levels from the definition of science integrity, what happens today, and how to spot, report and avoid these "crimes". 

Science Integrity Digest Blog: https://scienceintegritydigest.com/about/

Apr 11, 202223:53
Episode 10 | Angelina Fanny Hesse, the Woman who Brought Agar into Microbiology, with Vanesa Ayala-Nuñez
Feb 08, 202222:20
Episode 9 | New Bacteria from Last Year & the Transition from Academia to SciComms Freelancing with Sarah Wettstadt

Episode 9 | New Bacteria from Last Year & the Transition from Academia to SciComms Freelancing with Sarah Wettstadt

Sarah Wettstadt, Director of the MicroComms science communications business, joins host Joseph Shuttleworth to highlight some newly discovered bacteria from 2021 and what we can learn from them. They also discuss her experience transitioning from academia into science communication and give tips on starting your own freelancer projects or business. 

Jan 27, 202226:40
Episode 8 | Exploring the Antarctic Lake for Microorganisms with Christina Davis

Episode 8 | Exploring the Antarctic Lake for Microorganisms with Christina Davis

What does it take to do microbiology research in Antarctica? Christina Davis from the University of Florida talks to us about her own journey in studying microbes that live in subglacial lakes of Antarctica. 


Episode host: Eleni Koursari

Dec 15, 202118:24
Episode 7 | Antimicrobial Resistance and the R&D Model with Prof. Laura Piddock

Episode 7 | Antimicrobial Resistance and the R&D Model with Prof. Laura Piddock

Celebrating World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2021 we bring to this episode Prof. Laura Piddock, Scientific Director at the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP). Together with episode host Eleni Koursari we discuss about antimicrobial resistance and dive deeper into the topic of antibiotic R&D and stewardship.

GARDP website - https://gardp.org/

Nov 16, 202129:41
Episode 6 | Six Microbes for International Microorganism Day

Episode 6 | Six Microbes for International Microorganism Day

Looking forward to International Microorganism Day episode hosts Eleni Koursari and Joseph Shuttleworth chat about six interesting microorganisms and microscopic creatures perhaps unknown to you! From mangetic bacteria, to the worlds biggest fungi and spacefaring water bears!

Find more information about International Microorganism Day at https://www.internationalmicroorganismday.org/

Direct link to Interantional Microorganism Day YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaBLEoxM1V82rS2geNXA_fA


Sep 08, 202123:01
Episode 5 | Our Science Communication Awardee Cláudia Godinho talks about International Microorganism Day
Aug 10, 202119:18
Episode 4 | Life as a research fellow with Elisa Granato, FEMS Early Career Microbiologist Awardee

Episode 4 | Life as a research fellow with Elisa Granato, FEMS Early Career Microbiologist Awardee

Our podcast host Eleni Koursari, welcomes into this episode, Dr Elisa Granato, molecular microbiology research fellow at the University of Oxford and first FEMS Early Career Microbiologist Awardee. Elisa shares with us details about her research on bacterial ecology and evolution, experience about progressing through academia and talks about her partners in crime! 

Jul 08, 202120:49
Episode 3 | All about the World Microbe Forum, with Dr Jennifer Gardy
Jun 08, 202122:12
Episode 2 | When Science Crosses International Boarders - Experience From Our Japanese Ambassador: Prof. Ken-ichi Yoshida

Episode 2 | When Science Crosses International Boarders - Experience From Our Japanese Ambassador: Prof. Ken-ichi Yoshida

Science is really international! Our episode host Corrado Nai and the FEMS Japanese ambassador Prof. Ken-ichi Yoshida discuss how science crosses international boarders, from Japan to the EU to America. 

Apr 26, 202125:09
Episode 1 | Research, Networking and Public Perception of Science, with Prof. Linda J Kenney
Apr 26, 202127:13
Introducing: Microbes and Us!
Apr 19, 202100:48