imd in spain
INTERNATIONAL MICROORGANISM DAY (iµd 2026)
When: 17 September
Time: 10:00- 16:30
Where: Natural History Pavilion of the University of Almería (Spain)
On September 17, 2026, UAL’s Microbiology group will debut its International Microorganism Day Science Fair at the Natural History Pavilion (10:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.). Open to the university, the event highlights microbes' role in health, environment, and biotechnology via five themed tables, scientific talks, fermented food tastings, and a photo booth.
On September 17, 2026, the Microbiology research group at the University of Almería (UAL), in Spain, will join the official celebration of International Microorganism Day (IMD), 2026 edition, for the first time. The in-person event, intended for all members of the university community who are on UAL Campus that day and wish to attend, will hold at the Natural History Pavilion (PHN) of the UAL. The pavilion will be specially decorated for the occasion in an eye-catching way to attract the curiosity and attention of passersby. This event will take place from 10:00 to 16:30 and will consist of a Microbiological Science Fair dedicated to highlighting the key importance of microorganisms in our daily lives, in the health of the environment and the organisms that inhabit it, as well as their fundamental role in advances in biotechnology.
Programme of the day:
This landmark event combines education, creativity, and interesting hands-on science to raise awareness and encourage reflection on the importance of microorganisms. For this purpose, professors, researchers and doctoral students from the BIO175 Microbiology Research Group, together with volunteers from the student delegation of the Faculty of Experimental Sciences of UAL (especially students of Microbiology-related subjects), will be in charge of attending to visitors at our fair, setting up different themed areas for this purpose:
#Table 1: Welcome to the iµd 2026: in the outdoor area leading to the pavilion, the first stop on this scientific route will be found, marked by a huge poster with the phylogenetic tree of life and an image of Antoni van Leeuwenhoek. This will serve as a starting point to explain to visitors and curious onlookers the objective of the event and the reason for commemorating International Microorganism Day on September 17, hoping to spark their curiosity and encourage them to explore our ephemeral Museum of Microorganisms. At this table, you will find informational brochures and handcrafted items made by the researchers in the group.
#Table 2. Prokaryotic Microworld: a space dedicated to macroscopic and microscopic information and visualization of different types of bacteria, with special emphasis on showing the differences between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, highlighting some interesting examples in each case.
#Table 3. Eukaryotic Microworld: a space dedicated to the macroscopic and microscopic information and visualization of different types of fungi, molds and yeasts, highlighting the differences between the spectacular reproductive structures and hyphae developed by the different fungal genera.
#Table 4. MicroLab: a "field laboratory" will be set up so that visitors who wish to do so can feel like microbiologists for a day, carrying out their own isolations and microscopic preparations, and the most important thing, learning the particular way of working in a Microbiology lab: the aseptic conditions.
#Table 5. MicroArt: in this space, visitors can use their senses to enjoy the wonderful microbial world. Agar Art and Living Microbial Communities (Winogradsky Column) will be on display, and visitors will be able to identify the characteristic odors of some interesting microorganisms, along with information regarding the microorganisms involved in each case.
#Quorum Sensing Assembly: a space where researchers will share some of the most interesting past and current projects of the group in short talks with visitors. These talks will provide insights into the potential of microorganisms, sparking curiosity and debate in brief Q&A sessions. A program of MicroTalks will be available, and with free entry until full capacity is reached. Additionally, a tasting area featuring microbial foods, categorized by fermentation method (lactic, alcoholic or acetic), will be available to further engage all five senses.
Finally, a microbial photo booth will be available at the exit so visitors can take a fun photo before leaving and share it on their social media using the event hashtag.
