1) Microbial Dynamics in a Changing World: Explores the bidirectional impacts between microbial communities and environmental changes, including climate change, urbanisation, and pollution.

Suggested areas:

• Impact of Climate Change on Microbial Diversity and Processes: Assessing how climate change influences microbial diversity and ecosystem functioning.

• Influence of Microbial Activities on Climate and Environmental Health: Investigating the role of microbial processes in climate regulation and ecosystem health.

• Effects of Urbanisation and Pollution on Microbial Ecosystems: Understanding the impact of urbanisation and pollution on microbial communities across various environments.

• Role of Microbes in Biogeochemical Cycles and Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Studying microbial contributions to biogeochemical cycles and their influence on greenhouse gas emissions.

2) Microbial Processes and Environmental Interactions: Investigates the intricate processes and interactions of microbes within diverse environments, focusing on their physiological and biochemical roles.

Suggested areas:

• Microbial Stress Response and Signalling: Exploring how microbes detect and respond to environmental stressors, such as temperature, pH, and toxins.

• Cellular Functions and Regulation in Different Environments: Examining the regulation of cellular processes and functions across varied environmental contexts.

• Microbial Roles in Aquatic, Soil, Geological, and Extreme Environments: Understanding microbial contributions to ecosystem processes in diverse and extreme environments.

• Biochemical Pathways and Metabolic Processes in Microbes: Delving into the metabolic and biochemical pathways that drive microbial life and their environmental implications.
  

  
  

3) Evolutionary Innovations: Explores the role of evolutionary processes in shaping microbial functions and capabilities, with an emphasis on environmental and biotechnological applications.

Suggested areas:

• Mechanisms of Microbial Evolution: Investigates the genetic and molecular processes that drive microbial evolution, including mutation, horizontal gene transfer, and natural selection.

• Evolution of Microbial Interactions and Symbioses: Explores the evolution of microbial relationships, such as symbiosis, competition, and cooperation.

• Evolution of Metabolic Pathways: Understanding how microbial metabolic pathways have evolved and their implications for biogeochemical cycles and biotechnology.

• Implications for Ecosystem Dynamics: Studying how evolutionary innovations in microbes affect ecosystem structure, function, and resilience.

1) The Microbiome Revolution: Delves into the critical role of microbiomes in health and disease, highlighting their diverse impacts on human biology and medicine.

Suggested areas:

• Microbiomes-One Health: Highlighting the interconnectedness of microbiomes with human, animal, and environmental health.

• Gut Microbiota and Human Diseases: Exploring the impact of gut microbiota on human diseases and therapeutic interventions like faecal transplantation.

• Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis: Investigating the relationship between gut microbiota and brain health.

• Host-Pathogen Interactions and Microbial Pathogenesis: Examining microbial pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions.
  
  
  

2) Cutting-Edge Diagnostics and Therapeutics: Explores the latest advancements in diagnostic technologies and therapeutic strategies, with a focus on their impact on disease detection, prevention, and treatment.

Suggested areas:

• Advanced Diagnostics and Treatment: Developing innovative diagnostic tools and treatments, including personalised therapies based on patient-specific characteristics, while also exploring broader advancements in medical diagnostics.

• Phage Therapy and Biomarkers: Investigating the use of bacteriophages in disease treatment and biomarker discovery.

• Active Immunisation: Examining the role of vaccines in infection prevention and control.

• Microbiome-Drug Interactions: Understanding how microbial communities interact with medications, affecting pharmacology and side effects.
  
  
  

3) Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Addresses the urgent global issue of antimicrobial resistance, emphasising an integrated One Health approach that considers the interconnected health of humans, animals, and the environment.

Suggested areas:

• Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Resistance: Investigating the genetic and biochemical mechanisms underlying resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents across different microorganisms.

• Strategies for Monitoring and Controlling AMR Across Sectors: Developing strategies for monitoring AMR and implementing control measures across healthcare, agriculture, veterinary, and environmental sectors.

• Development of New Antibiotics and Alternative Therapies: Fostering the development of novel antibiotics and alternative therapeutic approaches.

• Role of Environmental and Agricultural Practices in the Spread of AMR: Understanding how environmental and agricultural practices contribute to the spread of AMR.

1) Synthetic Biology and Bioinformatics: Explores the transformative potential of synthetic biology and bioinformatics in engineering microbial systems and analysing biological data for sustainable solutions.

Suggested areas:

• Synthetic Biology Innovations: Engineering microbial systems and genomes to develop new biological functions and applications.

• Genome Editing Technologies: Leveraging tools like CRISPR and other genome engineering techniques for precise genetic modifications.

• Bioinformatics and Artificial Intelligence: Applying computational tools and AI to analyse biological data, optimise microbial processes, and predict environmental impacts.
  
  
  

2) Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology: Dives into cutting-edge microbial solutions for environmental sustainability and industrial applications, with an emphasis on practical and commercial biotechnology.

Suggested areas:

• Microbial Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture: Enhancing soil health and promoting sustainable farming practices, including microbial-plant interactions to boost productivity and enable agriculture in extreme environments.

• Microbial Food Products, Preservation, and Food Security: Reducing food spoilage, enhancing crop nutrition, and supporting global food security through microbial innovations.

• Biodegradation and Waste Valorisation: Converting waste into valuable resources and degrading environmental pollutants.

• Advanced Industrial Biotechnology: Developing microbial and enzymatic processes for industrial applications, including biofuels, bioplastics, and microbial bioreactors.
  
  
  

3) Microbes, Society, and Sustainable Solutions: Addresses societal challenges through innovative microbial technologies, focusing on frugal innovations that benefit global public health and development, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Suggested areas:

• Affordable Biotechnological Solutions for Global Health: Developing cost-effective and accessible microbial innovations to address public health challenges globally.

• Sustainable Development through Microbial Technologies: Leveraging microbial applications to support sustainable development goals such as clean water, food security, and environmental health.

• Microbial Innovations in Public Health Crises: Using microbial technologies to address and mitigate public health emergencies, including pandemics and antimicrobial resistance.

• Policy and Advocacy for Frugal Innovations: Promoting policy frameworks and advocacy efforts to support the adoption and implementation of frugal microbial technologies in resource-limited settings.

1) Career, Skills, and Entrepreneurship

Exploring diverse career opportunities, building key skills, and turning research into commercial ventures. 

Suggested areas:

• Navigating Career Paths: Insights into academic and non-academic (industry, policy, NGOs, and advocacy) paths and career development across different regions and career stages. 

• Building a Comprehensive Skill Set: Key skills for engagement and growth, including teaching, communication, leadership, sustainability practices, and achieving work-life balance. 

• From Lab to Market: Entrepreneurship skills for researchers looking to commercialize their work, building start-ups, and protecting innovations through patents and IP strategies.   
  
  

2) Grants and Funding: Equipping researchers with the tools to secure funding and build collaborative projects. 

Suggested areas:

• Writing Winning Grant Proposals: Strategies for crafting competitive grant applications. 

• Building International Consortia: Practical advice for establishing global collaborations and networks. 
  
  

3) Societies and Networking: Highlighting the value of professional societies and building strong, interdisciplinary networks. 

Suggested areas:

• Maximising Society Membership: How societies can support career development and provide leadership opportunities . 

• Networking for Success: Strategies for building professional and interdisciplinary connections across academia and industry. 
  
  

4) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Promoting inclusive practices in science and academia. 

Suggested areas:

• DEI in Academia: Addressing progress and challenges in fostering diversity and equity. 

• Inclusive Teaching and Universal Design for Learning (UDL): Creating accessible and inclusive educational experiences. 
  
  

5) Communication and Outreach: Strengthening science communication and public engagement skills. 

Suggested areas:

• Science Communication Techniques: Effective methods to communicate research to the public. 

• Social Media for Science: Leveraging platforms for outreach and career development. 

• Citizen Science and Public Engagement: How to involve the public in scientific research. 

6) Publishing and Research Transparency: Promoting transparency and openness in research. 

Suggested areas:

• Open Science Practices: Encouraging reproducibility and accessibility in research. 

• Future of Publishing: Best practices in publishing and editing, including open access and emerging trends. 

• Sharing Failures in Research: Encouraging transparency and learning from mistakes. 
  
  

7) Education and Mentoring: Developing educational practices and fostering mentoring relationships. 

Suggested areas:

• Innovations in Microbiology Education: Enhancing teaching methods and approaches in microbiology. 

• Mentoring for Career Success: Finding and being an effective mentor. 

• Developing Research Skills in Students: Helping students build strong research skills through innovative approaches.