imd in china
Microbes at Work: Microbial Solutions for a Sustainable Future
When: 17 September
Time: 09:00-13:00
Where: Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) / Shantou, China
Celebrating International Microorganism Day 2026, this event showcases microorganisms as practical solutions to environmental and societal challenges. Through seminars, a hands-on workshop, and a student poster competition, participants explore how microbes drive cleaner soil and water, carbon capture, sustainable materials, and better health, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.
"Microbes at Work: Microbial Solutions for a Sustainable Future" celebrates International Microorganism Day 2026 at Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT), Shantou, China, marking GTIIT's fourth consecutive year hosting IMD. The event moves beyond awareness toward application, showing how microorganisms are harnessed and engineered to solve real environmental and societal problems, from cleaner soil and water and carbon mineralization to waste valorization, sustainable construction materials, food production, and disease prevention. These applications connect directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in climate action, clean water, sustainable cities, and good health.
The objective is to present microbes as a practical toolkit for sustainability, to help students relate their own research to a wider global effort, and to give participants direct, hands-on experience with microbiological techniques. The event is designed for undergraduate and graduate students, scientists, and faculty, with outreach to local secondary school students to broaden public engagement with microbiology.
The format combines seminar talks, a hands-on microbiology workshop, and a student poster competition. Sessions feature eminent microbiologists including Prof. Varenyam Achal alongside an invited keynote speaker, with activities facilitated by the GTIIT environmental engineering department, drawing on its work in the area of environmental microbiology.
Programme of the day
Undergraduate and graduate students, scientists, and faculty, with selected outreach to local secondary school students.
Time Session
09:00 – 09:15 Opening ceremony and introduction to International Microorganism Day 2026
09:15 – 10:00 Seminar: Microbes at Work, Microbial Solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals
10:00 – 10:20 Keynote: Engineering Microbes for Cleaner Soil, Water, and Materials
10:20 – 10:30 Coffee break
10:30 – 11:00 Hands-on microbiology workshop
11:00 – 12:00 Student poster presentation and competition
12:00 – 13:00 Closing ceremony, prizes, and networking lunch
