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It all started wheN…

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek – a Dutch merchant with no fortune or university degree - sent a letter to the Royal Society of London in 1683, with the first description of a single-celled organism. The date was September 17, the day that since 2017 was chosen to celebrate the International Microorganism Day.

This improbable scientist displayed infinite curiosity, being a patient and tireless worker, gifted with extraordinary power of observation. He built and developed his own microscopes (hundreds of them!), perfecting the lenses of his optical system and thus making it possible to obtain extraordinary amplifications, well ahead of his time, and to observe and describe, for the first time, microorganisms. In this famous letter, an exquisite description was made of the first observation of living bacteria present on the dental plaque, which was accompanied by drawings of the microorganisms observed and their movements. Finally reaching microscopic life, the foundations of Microbiology were laid.

The commemorations of the International Microorganism Day were launched in Portugal, and combine science dissemination activities, open laboratories, DIY experimental exhibits, microbial product tasting stands, and workshops for high-school and university undergraduate students, and high-school teachers, organized with the participation of national and international scientists working in the field of Microbiology.

We aim to teach and provide a platform, both online and offline, for microbe lovers around the world to share their passion and knowledge of the microbes in our daily lives.