by The Norwich Research Park organizes one of the world’s largest clusters of microbiologists at a single location. Together they form the Center for Microbial Interactions, which was founded last year and was recently met for its opening conference.
The conference was an important milestone for the center, since all members from more than 100 separate research groups had come together for the first time. The two -day conference gave you the opportunity to present your research, to exchange ideas and thoughts with colleagues from various institutions and to start discussions about future collaborations.
Microbiology in Norwich Research Park covers a variety of topics and deals with some of the most important problems in society today. The researchers presented work that describe the development of new antibiotics how the microbes affect climate change, how microbes affect the health of people and plants and how we can develop microbes for biotechnology applications.
A large part of the examinations presented was unpublished, so it was the first time that most of the audience was exposed to her. More than 200 people took part in the conference every day.
The first day focused on research that is carried out in human health and topics such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR), microbial communities, genomics and the well -being of patients.
The second day examined the problems related to climate change, agricultural plants, the environment and engineering biology.
In one of the meetings, the possibilities that exist for people who want a career in scientific support roles such as technical services, business development, operations and facility management.
Roz Bird, CEO, Anglia Innovation Partnership (Image: Chris Ball Photography) Perhaps one of the most revealing sessions of Roz Bird, CEO of the Anglia Innovation Partnership, the Campus Management Organization of the Norwich Research Park, was directed, which were referred to as “routes too impact” and which demonstrated, as the microbial research carried out on the Park Campus have an impact on the “real world”.
The audience heard from Ros Campilongo, CEO and co -founder of Pfbio, and Kate Tibbles, stem engineer at Colorifix, about how microbiology is of central importance for both companies.
Colorifix creates dyes for the fashion industry from pigments in microorganisms and plants and replaces the use of harmful dyes on a chemical basis. The fashion industry uses nine trillion liters of water a year and is one of the world’s largest dirt.
Kate Tibbles, stretching engineer, Colorifix (Image: Chris Ball Photography) Through microbiological specialist knowledge, Colorifix scientists can extract the code for color from the DNA of the microorganisms and convert it into a dye. This process drastically reduces the amount of water used in the coloring process and the pollution coloring.
Colorifix has already successfully worked with fashion brands H&M, Vollebak and Pangaia as well as Dye House Sagana.
PFBIO is developing microbial -based solutions to replace chemical pesticides in agriculture and offer a more sustainable alternative. There is a growing demand for these organic controls and biostimulants, since farmers try to reduce their dependence on synthetic products.
Rosaria Campilongo, CEO, Pfbio (Image: Chris Ball Photography) PFBIO has developed a process to identify the best organic control strains for certain plants. Based on strawberries, it is currently testing its process in field trials and will introduce products especially for onions, hops, lavender, tomatoes and potatoes in the future.
In addition, Beth Williams, a lecturer in microbiology at UEA, spoke about how she works with local schools as part of an Outreach program to promote science, especially microbiology, to students who are thinking of their future career.
Beth is motivated to arouse interest in microbiology because there are so many applications in our world. Therefore, it examines things like downloadable teaching plans for teachers who can be used in class, games and podcasts guided by students to build their profile.
Beth Williams, lecturer for microbiology, Uea (Image: Chris Ball Photography) She also believes that the establishment of the microbial interactions will help to raise awareness and to offer a point of contact and a resource for those who are interested in gaining a better understanding.
James Canham, who works in the Sainsbury Laboratory, founded a non-profit organization Getgenome to help scientists in less well-financed countries to gain access to Genomics technology and genomics training.
If you provide scientists access to these technologies, you will authorize you to address critical local challenges independently and to promote progress in various regional contexts. Getgenomas supports activities in more than 20 countries worldwide and has so far sequenced more than 500 genomes.
James Canham, the Sainsbury Laboratory and Getgenome Project (Image: Chris Ball Photography) You can find a good example of Getgenome’s work in North Africa, where local plants accommodate microbial allies that improve resilience and growth of the harvest. It worked extensively with researchers in this region by offering access to modern genome sequencing technology.
Some of these microbes can turn out to be sustainable alternatives to agrochemicals that offer solutions for nutritional safety in extreme environments, and they can also become powerful tools for air -conditioning agriculture through the region.
Roz said: “I am very interested in showing the effects of our community of microbiologists in the real world, be it through brilliant business ideas, outreach programs with schools or non-profit work in areas of the world in which inequality exists.
“This conference and the establishment of the Center for Microbial Interactions are a really powerful platform to highlight the variety of groundbreaking research on the Norwich Research Park campus.”
The importance of evidence of how microbiological research can have a positive influence on so many parts of society cannot be interrupted. This means that more funds can be attracted to certain projects, and also shows how publicly financed how research can make a real difference for many people around the world.
The conference included an exhibition of posters that have highlighted the work of microbiological research groups in the entire Norwich Research Park (Image: Chris Ball Photography) In the main recording area of the conference there was a poster exhibition that presented the work of many microbiological research groups from all over the park. The idea for the posters was to give delegates a brief overview of the research areas in which the groups work, the goals of research and the results and results so far.
Prof. Mark Webber, Director of the Center for Microbial Interactions and Group Leader at the Quadram Institute, said: “It is really important that we can join together in order to share our cumulative knowledge and specialist knowledge and network, since cooperation is often the key to make pioneering scientific discoveries in the field of microbiology.
“Microbiology touches our entire life, from the food we eat to our health and future of our planet. The center for microbial interactions has been established to better promote and educate people about the value of microbiology and to offer a better platform for those of us in all institutions based in Norwich Research Park to get more precisely with the ultimate goal of achieving real advantages. “
Sam Rowe, project manager for the center for microbial interactions, which organized the event, said: “It was fantastic to see how our diverse and extensive community of the conference came together. The original feedback I received was completely positive.
“One of the largest groups of microbiologists at a location all over the world is a real advantage that we have here in Norwich Research Park. We would like to use this power optimally so that we can offer practical solutions to overcome some of the greatest challenges that we face compared to nutritional security, human health and climate change. “
