What inspired “Microbe Mysteries”?

As an academic cave microbiology researcher and educator since 2002, I have headed the TRU Cave Microbiology laboratory with an unwavering commitment to being part of microbiology educators’ communities and debunking ungrounded concerns about microorganisms. In my career, I have continued to share that:

  1. Not all bacteria are created equally; only 1% or less cause illness, and 99% or more are either neutral and/or beneficial in many ways.
  2. There are about 3 to 4 pounds (that is the weight of our brain!) worth of microorganisms that live in and on us: our bodies are an ecosystem. We cannot live without them.
  3. There is still much to learn from microbial intelligence and adaptations. On Earth, only about 5% of microorganisms are known and have been studied.
  4. Microorganisms are our ancestors and kin. We are all biologically related and interconnected (the evolutionary period and its scale are incomprehensible for us human beings– the first life that arose on the ancient Earth was some 4 billion years ago).
  5. We cannot be healthy and happy if our microorganisms are not healthy and happy.
  6. The “One Health” concept is the framework for the interconnectedness of all lives on Earth and our habitats – our health to animal (wild and domesticated) health and planet health. No one’s life on Earth can be healthy if our planet is not healthy. It is a systemic and dynamic approach to health.
  7. There is so much to learn from microbes’ intelligence and adaptations for our adaptations, in particular during this time of climate crisis.

I, as a researcher, educator, and mother, am privileged to be able to use my position to continue promoting science literacy beyond the classroom and laboratory – in public through my research and activities such as art exhibitions. As stated in the article written by Dr. Timmis and colleagues, “Microbiology literacy needs to become part of the world citizen job description”2, the public must understand the ins and outs of how microorganisms are at the end and the beginning of every life on Earth. As a society, we are running out of time to convince the public, as the world we are living in is so divided already. One recent example is what we have seen through polarized opinions in the public about vaccination during the global pandemic. Microorganisms are fundamental to the poly-crises our world is facing2,3.

“Our world is facing complex, social, political, ethical, and environmental problems that pose “wicked” challenges and require thoughtful leaders who can bring entirely new solutions to solve such complicated global problems. In this context, the term “wicked” introduces the mindset that there are many very complex issues facing our world, and we must take complicated and holistic measures to solve them. As a cave microbiologist whose work has included research to save North American bat species from the deadly white-nose syndrome, I learned firsthand how intricately our species is connected to where we live and how we treat our environment and animals. We need to reconnect with and respect the very place we live in. We also need to make sure our younger generations are equipped with the ability to piece together that all life on Earth is interconnected, and that our unhealthy relationships with our planet and animals, both domesticated and wild, that we continue to live with, are a key cause of this wicked discord. The One Health concept views the world as interconnected: animal, human, and planetary health are inevitably and inseparably tied. This concept should be a mandatory part of the educational curricula at all levels to foster an understanding of how we, the human species, can never be healthy if our planet and animals are not healthy. This is only one of many “wicked” crises we must solve together as students, educators, community members, corporations, and governments. Together we are better.” A quote from what I wrote and was published1.

Acknowledgments

It truly takes more than a community to make this collaboration possible. Our gratitude also goes to the 2022-2023 TRU Instructional Innovation Grant (TIIG), TRU Center of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CELT), TRU Undergraduate Research Experience Award Program (UREAP – Lauren Mark), Vancouver Science World’s Scientists and Innovators in Schools program, TRU Faculty of Science, and TRU Printshop.

Also, a shout-out to past and current research students in Dr. Cheeptham’s laboratory, Canada’s caving communities, bat biologists, citizen scientists, and many collaborators. You all inspire me continuously. This project could not have been made possible without the moral and intellectual support of all of you, in many ways.

Last but not least, my deepest love and gratitude go to my husband and son, Joe and Ryder C. Dobson, who are always there, my rocks, bringing strength when I have none, and for their unwavering belief in me.

Written By:
Naowarat Cheeptham (Ann), Ph.D.
Professor – Cave Microbiology, TRU
2022 3M National Teaching Fellow
ncheeptham@tru.ca

References:

  1. Cheeptham, N. 2023 Understanding Your Own Inner Landscape as a Pathway to Becoming a More Skillful Science Educator. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education, 24(2): doi:10.1128/jmbe.00056-23 https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/jmbe.00056-23
  2. Timmis K, Cavicchioli R, Garcia JL, Nogales B, Chavarría M, Stein L, McGenity TJ, Webster N, Singh BK, Handelsman J, Lorenzo V, Pruzzo C, Timmis J, Martín JLR, Verstraete W, Jetten M, Danchin A, Huang W, Gilbert J, Lal R, Santos H, Lee SY, Sessitsch A, Bonfante P, Gram L, Lin RTP, Ron E, Karahan ZC, Meer JR, Artunkal S, Jahn D, Harper L. 2019. The urgent need for microbiology literacy in society. Environ Microbiol, 21:1513–1528. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.14611.
  3. Timmis K. 2023 A Road to Microbiology Literacy (and More): an Opportunity for a Paradigm Change in Teaching. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education, 24(1): doi:10.1128/jmbe.00019-23 https://journals.asm.org/doi/abs/10.1128/jmbe.00019-23