„Bacteriopolis – a journey to new horizons“ – A traveling exhibition on bacterial multicellularity –

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Thorsten Mascher
• Subject Area: Microbial Ecology and Applied Microbiology ; Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 503967644

From the oxygenation of earth to modern technological applications, microbes have and continue to play vital roles in the creation and maintenance of our environment and human health. Within the Priority Program “Emergent Functions of Bacterial Multicellularity”, the scientific communication platform Bakteriopolis aims to challenge the traditional view of bacteria as single-celled entities by highlighting bacterial multicellular forms and their applications in an accessible and interactive format. Since its conception, the traveling exhibition has engaged both children in an academic setting and the general public. Project weeks in daycares and schools featuring age-appropriate and hands-on activities were used to introduce young children to microbiology as well as develop knowledge of microbiological concepts in older students. Many educational institutions that visited the exhibition gave positive feedback on their experiences and expressed interest in integrating Bakteriopolis into their future curriculum. Participation in city-wide social events such as the City Festival and Long Night of Science in Dresden also engaged adults from a wide variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. Supervision of these events was provided by SPP-associated researchers and students, thereby promoting interaction between the visitors and scientists/exhibit and allowing the supervisors to develop their science communication skills with a non-specialist audience. Event collaborations with authors and artists working with and within the field of microbiology aided in finding alternative and accessible formats for presenting these themes to the public. Bakteriopolis successfully integrated multiple forms of media into the exhibition, including time-lapse and interview videos, interactive pictures, 3-dimensional models, live microbial cultures, and books. The development of an interactive augmented reality (AR) model of a bacterial cell by the Interactive MediaLab of the TU Dresden Informatics Department highlights a unique and well-received tool conceived to spark interest in learning about microbes. In its second funding period, we seek to strengthen and expand the outreach of Bakteriopolis through the implementation of novel teaching tools and enhanced cooperation with SPP 2389 partners and educational institutions. This includes further development of digital tools for the exhibition, including the AR model and its integration in school curricula, as well as the establishment of a permanent and sustainable microbe school in Dresden to continue offering education as well as educator training. Enhanced networking with SPP 2389 partners and other educational institutions will facilitate more mobility and nation-wide access to the exhibition, thereby expanding its reach and establishing Bakteriopolis as a leading scientific communication initiative.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 2389: Emergent Functions of Bacterial Multicellularity