IMD in Belgium

International Microorganism Day in Belgium 

When: 21 September 2024

Where: Museum of Natural Sciences

On September 21, 2024, the Young Belgian Society for Microbiology will celebrate IMD 2024 in Brussels, Belgium. The event will run from 10:00 to 16:30 and will be filled with exciting science activities, fascinating facts about microbes, and insights into the crucial role they play in our daily lives!

Held at the Museum of Natural Sciences in Brussels, specifically in the Mezzanine of the Gallery of Dinosaurs and the Mineral Hall, the event will feature a microbiology-themed science fair. This fair is organized by passionate early-career scientists from universities across Belgium. They will present complex and trendy scientific concepts in an accessible and interactive manner, including a mini-escape (ESKAPE) room, hands-on activities, and microscopy workshops. The subjects covered will span general, environmental, clinical, and industrial microbiology.

Additionally, there will be a comprehensive booth showcasing a retrospective timeline of microbes, tracing their history from the emergence of life to ancient Egyptian societies making beer and bread, and up to the present day with COVID-19. This special IMD edition will also address common myths about microbiology, presenting the goods and bads in an interactive and contextualized way to cover various microbiological subjects and applications.

Last, the iGEM team of KU Leuven is gearing up to teach the public about synthetic biology. They'll unveil their project, highlighting microorganisms' potential, through an interactive display, sparking curiosity and conversations about biotech's future.

The objective of this event is to educate the public about microbiology through interactive activities and workshops, foster interest, and curiosity in the field, motivating younger generations into the subject. We focus on highlighting the crucial role of microbes in environmental, clinical, and industrial context, addressing and dispelling common myths about microbiology. As the young branch from the BSM, we provide a platform for early-career scientists to present their research and passion. offer a historical perspective on the significance of microbes from ancient times to the present and use engaging methods like escape rooms and hands-on workshops to enhance the learning experience and make scientific knowledge more accessible and memorable. Hence, our event is multifaceted, aiming to achieve several goals: educational outreach, public engagement, highlighting importance, debunking myths, showcasing researcher passion, tracing historical perspective, all in an interactive learning method.