FEMS Microbe Art Competition Comes Back!

The Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) brings back their much loved Microbe Art Competition to help support IMD2021!

Painting by Erin McIntosh (Website: https://www.erinmcintosh.com/, Instagram: erinlmcintosh)

Before we go into the details of this year’s competition, lets revisit some of our favourite entries from the last 2 years that this contest has been running!

I am so happy to share my entry for #MicrobeArt2020 @FEMSmicro

Agar is just another fun media you need to use when you are a sciartist 😉

We all harbor a gigantic treasure: our microbiome!
The bacteria used were isolated from human mouth/skin. #InternationalMicroorganismDay pic.twitter.com/HLre6rSSFm

— Dr. Noémie Matthey (@NoemieMatthey) September 7, 2020

Here's a somewhat daft entry for #MicrobeArt2020 @FEMSmicro -

Frustrated with #coronavirus and 2020 in general, I've decided to ride it out on a #SARSCoV2 #spacehopper!#sciart? Or just a #silly #animation to make you #Smile pic.twitter.com/u5f5quGHAn

— 💙Dr Eliza Wolfson💙 (@eliza_coli) September 9, 2020

Almost a week out from #InternationalMicroorganismDay, what better way to get ready than by crocheting the mascots for #MicrobeArt2020! @FEMSmicro (patterns below!) pic.twitter.com/RejZXxfhGc

— Erin Borbee (@ErinBorbee) September 9, 2020

In the run up to #InternationalMicroorganismDay I'm sharing my #MicrobeArt2020 to @FEMSmicro - This is a depiction of "marine snow". As particles sink through the water column, they are colonized by diverse microorganisms. pic.twitter.com/38kZntViYU

— Barbara Bayer (@BarbaraBayer90) August 29, 2020

"Decoding the Gut Microbiome" fused glass panel, by Jane Hartman. My entry for #MicrobeArt2019 #InternationalMicroorganismDay @FEMSTweets

Features DNA extraction from various gut bacteria that is then decoded.
Bacteria include: E coli, Staph., and Helicobactor pic.twitter.com/NWcv6fPAsg

— Jane Hartman (@trilobiteglass) September 7, 2019

Introducing Arsenic Man who will come to save the world from the 'curse of arsenic'.
Happy to share my cartoon entry for #MicrobeArt2020 @FEMSmicro pic.twitter.com/GBuSKlcu5A

— Soumyajit Dutta (@soumyashuvro) September 9, 2020

These are my submissions for the #MicrobeArt2020 contest organised by FEMS. Both are my interpretation of darkfield microscopy images of Tardigrade and Closterium sp.s respectively. I have drawn them digitally.@FEMSmicro @OpenAcademics @AcademicChatter #MicroArt #SciArt pic.twitter.com/eFDPSVE0t2

— Pranami Goswami (@magneto_cheron) August 18, 2020

"It's a busy life in Gutshire."
My little contribution to @FEMSmicro for this year's #MicrobeArt2020 and #InternationalMicroorganismDay pic.twitter.com/xPIlyKg7Uy

— Petra Korlevic (@petrathepostdoc) September 8, 2020

When Pirate Microbe tries to ride out Antimicrobial Storm on his Biofilm Ship :D @FEMSmicro #MicrobeArt2020 #InternationalMicroorganismsDay #Biofilm@ASMicrobiology @SfAMtweets @MicrobioSoc pic.twitter.com/HScius6DIO

— Chandni Sachdeva (@ThisIsChandniS) September 9, 2020

Done! This was such a fun project, I really tried to encompass all things microbiology.

Finishing it also happens to coincide with the @FEMSmicro #MicrobeArt2020 competition, so I shall consider this my entry! #InternationalMicroorganismDay https://t.co/KFngG2hWcu pic.twitter.com/FHaqlSO3gV

— Charlotte Roughton (@cgroughton) September 7, 2020

What do you call a fly with no wings?
A walk.

My entry for @FEMSmicro #MicrobeArt2020 is this photo of the tracks a fly left after walking over an agar plate #internationalmicroorganismday pic.twitter.com/RObbtAYhpw

— Helen Rickard (@HelenR27) September 8, 2020

We hope that by now we gave you loads of inspiration to start creating your own Microbe Art! The possibilities are countless, so don’t be afraid to do add your own presonal touch!

categories in the Microbe Art Contest

• Best Agar Art

• Best Cartoon

• Best Illustration or Painting

• Best Photography

• Best Physical Piece

• Best Writing

• Grand Prize: Best Art Overall

to enter

Simply, post your creation on social media (Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram) along with

1. The hashtags #MicrobeArt2021 AND #InternationalMicroorganismDay

2. The FEMS social media account handle @FEMSmicro

Deadline to enter is 10 September 2021.

Choosing the winners

Winners will be chosen by the FEMS and IMD team and will be anounced on our International Microorganism Day live stream, happening on the 16 and 17 September 2021.