IMD in Greece
A few IMD events are being hosted in Greece this year! See details below for more information.
Microbes meet humans / Οι μικροοργανισμοί συναντούν τους ανθρώπους
When: 21 September 2024. 10:00-15:00
Where: The Mill of Pappas, Larissa, Greece
Several activities have been planned for the event named “Microbes meet humans” including
1) talks and leaflets about the history of Pasteur and how the microbes involved in the production of food: a story telling by the Museum of cereals and flours
2) the interactive talk “Who wants to be a……Researcher”: stories with ARISTO project young researchers coming from different Countries out of Europe answering questions regarding their choice to come to Europe and become researchers
3) the learning activities: i. how to maintain a microbial ecosystem (Introduction on Winogradsky's Column and instructions how to make your own) ii. What do the microbes eat and how we prepare their food: (Demo and instructions)
4) 2 Interactive Games: i. Interactive floor game on nitrogen cycling: Let’s be the Nitrogen of the atmosphere ii. Navanthus 2022: Learn about the phytoremediation
5) Let’s draw the microbes and prepare our microbial gallery (Guided and free style (e.g., after microscopic observation)
6) Videos, Posters, Photos of microbes and their application in Agriculture - Environment / Food - Nutrition / Biotechnology-Bioenergy / Aquatics - Aquacultures. Several research projects will also be presented
7) several other activities
The objective of our event is o familiarize the general public with the application and the impact of microorganisms in Agriculture - Environment / Food - Nutrition / Biotechnology-Bioenergy / Aquatics - Aquacultures
Microbes meet humans / Οι μικροοργανισμοί συναντούν τους ανθρώπους
When: 21 September 2024. 10:00-15:00
Where: The Mill of Pappas, Larissa, Greece
Several activities have been planned for the event named “Microbes meet humans” including
1) talks and leaflets about the history of Pasteur and how the microbes involved in the production of food: a story telling by the Museum of cereals and flours
2) the interactive talk “Who wants to be a……Researcher”: stories with ARISTO project young researchers coming from different Countries out of Europe answering questions regarding their choice to come to Europe and become researchers
3) the learning activities: how to maintain a microbial ecosystem (Introduction on Winogradsky's Column and instructions how to make your own) ii. What do the microbes eat and how we prepare their food: (Demo and instructions)
4) 2 Interactive Games: Interactive floor game on nitrogen cycling: Let’s be the Nitrogen of the atmosphere ii. Navanthus 2022: Learn about the phytoremediation
5) Let’s draw the microbes and prepare our microbial gallery (Guided and free style (e.g., after microscopic observation)
6) Videos, Posters, Photos of microbes and their application in Agriculture - Environment / Food - Nutrition / Biotechnology-Bioenergy / Aquatics - Aquacultures. Several research projects will also be presented
7) several other activities
The objective of our event is o familiarize the general public with the application and the impact of microorganisms in Agriculture - Environment / Food - Nutrition / Biotechnology-Bioenergy / Aquatics - Aquacultures
Tiny explorations
When: Thursday 26 September 2024
Where: Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Greece
Microbes are ubiquitous and provide numerous services to humans and our planet. A recent study confirmed the often-negative perception of microorganisms by the public in Greece and the necessity of visualizing the microbial world to people to combat misconceptions and raise awareness.
Our event at the Department of Biological Applications and Technology will have two basic components to show how microbes are associated with food and the environment. We will have four (4) stations the students will visit by rotation.
Station 1: Microscopic investigations of freshwater microbes. Students will examine Pamvotis lake and other freshwater ecosystems microscopic life. Slides with autotrophic and heterotrophic protists will be ready for observation under light microscopes. Students will observe differences in sizes, colour and shapes and will appreciate microbial diversity. In a parallel activity, phytoplankton chlorophyll will be extracted. Students will observe membrane filters and solvents becoming greenish. They will familiarise with small sized photosynthesizers which require chlorophyll to produce the 50% of the oxygen we breath.
Station 2: Food related microbes. Macroscopic and microscopic investigations of food related microbes. The students will make visual observations of rotten foods or foods with microbial ingredients (e.g. blue mold of roquefort cheese). Then they will examine these microbial components under the microscope. Students will appreciate the role of microbes in food spoilage but also in food production.
Station 3: Agar art. Students will create art in petri dishes using living, growing, colorful microorganisms. Pictures will be sent to creators after incubation of petri dishes in the lab.
Station 4: Creation of a “Tiny Encounters” poster. At the end of the visit, students will freehand draw microbes or make microbe-themed word clouds on a paper poster.