Staff and students from the University’s Institute of Infection and Global Health have taken part in this year’s Bluedot Festival at Jodrell Bank.
Set against a backdrop of the iconic Lovell Telescope in Cheshire, Bluedot 2018 combined music performances from the likes of The Chemical Brothers and The Flaming Lips with a ground-breaking programme of live science experiments, expert talks and immersive artworks.
The Institute delivered an activity called Bad Bugs vs. Good Bugs: Make a Microbe!, which gave visitors the chance to see bacteria grown from everyday items and to make their own petri dish filled with crafted bacteria.
Microbiology PhD Student Emma Dearing, who led the activity said: “Our research is especially relevant to the general public as it covers topics directly applicable to everyday health. Microbes can be found everywhere, but not all of them are bad for us and it’s great to be able to introduce people to the different kinds and share with them what we’re doing in the fight against disease causing microorganisms.”
Dr Rebecca Glennon-Alty, the Institute’s Science Communication Officer, said: “This was the first time the Institute has taken part in the Bluedot Festival and it was a great opportunity for us to engage a new audience with microbiology. The team worked really hard all weekend and received some really positive feedback. Hopefully we’ll return again next year!”
Make a Microbe! received public engagement funding support from the Society for Applied Microbiology.
For more information about the Institute of Infection and Global Health’s public engagement activities visit: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/infection-and-global-health/public-engagement/
