International Microorganism Day was celebrated at Alameda campus with experiments, lectures, and interactive activities.

On 17 September, visitors of all ages participated in the “Microbiology Route” with their “scientific passports” in hand, at Técnico – Alameda campus. Each challenge they completed granted them a new stamp in their passports and unveiled the different roles microorganisms play in areas such as health, industry, food, and ecosystems.

The event marked International Microorganism Day, which commemorates the first reported observation of unicellular organisms by Anton van Leeuwenhoek in 1683. “It is an opportunity to show the community how these invisible organisms shape life on the planet and can be allies in areas as diverse as health, energy, and the environment”, said Joana Feliciano, a professor of bioengineering at Técnico.

Opposite, visitors found jars with yeast cultures isolated from microalgae, challenging them to identify the correct match by colour. The activity combined observation and deduction: “This is harder than it looks”, said some students trying to find the right match among the diversity of yeasts on display.

Among the proposals, there was also a game similar to “Who’s Who?”, in which participants connected clues and characteristics to discover which microorganisms are responsible for producing alternative proteins. The activity aimed to bring research closer to everyday reality, highlighting the role of microbiology in the development of sustainable foods. See more.