Microbes are essential for human survival, playing crucial roles in digestion, immune system development, medical and food industry, and cleaning up our environment. Examples of some of the roles microbes play include the following: (1) in the human gut, microorganisms like bacteria help digest food and synthesize vitamins like vitamin K2 and B12: (2) in the immune system, microorganisms reduce risks of autoimmune diseases and allergies, (3) microbes produce important medications like genetically engineered gut bacteria E. Coli used to mass-produce insulin and other drugs; (4) microbes are essential in the fermentation process used to make yogurt, cheese, bread, beer, sauerkraut, wine, soy sauce, etc.: and (5) microorganisms decompose organic waste, and some plastics, recycling nutrients into the ecosystem. Participants can focus presentations on any of a variety of topics. For example, you can focus on a particular microbe, where it is found, its lifecycle, and how it is beneficial to humans or other life forms; or you might look at the immune system and how it responds to microbes to reduce autoimmune diseases and allergies: or examine how microbes are involved in food production. Any and all ideas for a presentation are welcome. No science background needed just curiosity.
