ABSTRACT SUBMISSION FORM WILL OPEN ON 15 NOVEMBER 2024

Welcome to the abstract submission page for the Early Career Researcher Conference on Microbial Solutions for a Changing World! We are excited to provide you with the opportunity to showcase your innovative research and contribute to important conversations about the role of microbes in addressing the pressing challenges of climate change.

  • Closing date for abstract submissions: 15 July 2025
  • Successful abstract submissions notified by: 15 August 2025
  • Abstract submissions requesting registration waivers must be received by: 15 June 2025

This conference is divided into three core themes—Greenhouse Gas Recycling, Medical Impacts of Climate Change, and Environmental Impacts & Ecosystem Restoration. Each theme highlights the critical intersections between microbiology and global environmental and health issues. Whether your research focuses on microbial contributions to carbon cycling, the spread of climate-driven diseases, or ecosystem restoration, we encourage you to submit your work.

By participating, you’ll engage with peers, leading experts, and future collaborators while making your mark on the future of sustainable microbiology. Explore each theme in the tabs below to find out more about the types of topics and research you can submit for oral presentations and posters. We look forward to seeing your groundbreaking contributions

Theme 1: Greenhouse Gas Recycling
Potential Topics:
 

  • Microbial Carbon Cycling: Research on how microbes contribute to carbon capture, sequestration, and release.

    • Methanotrophs and methanogens in methane cycling.
    • Microbial pathways in carbon dioxide fixation.
    • Bioengineering microbes for enhanced carbon sequestration.

  • Nitrogen and Sulfur Cycling: Understanding microbial roles in the nitrogen and sulfur cycles under climate change conditions.

    • Denitrifying bacteria and nitrous oxide emission reduction.
    • Sulfate-reducing bacteria in climate change mitigation.

  • Microbial Consortia for Bioenergy:

    • Microbes in anaerobic digestion for biogas production.
    • Novel microbial systems for biofuel generation from organic waste.

  • Synthetic Biology and Microbial Engineering:

    • Genetic modifications to enhance microbial efficiency in greenhouse gas recycling.
    • Engineering synthetic microbial consortia to capture and recycle carbon.

  • Soil and Agricultural Microbiology:

    • Soil microbial communities’ role in carbon storage.
    • Impact of agricultural practices on microbial-driven greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Marine Microbial Communities:

    • Oceanic microbes in carbon cycling and sequestration.
    • The role of phytoplankton and marine bacteria in mitigating greenhouse gases.
Theme 2: Medical Impacts of Climate Change

Potential Topics:

  • Climate-Driven Changes in Disease Dynamics:
    • Microbial evolution and adaptation to warmer temperatures.
    • The impact of climate change on the spread of vector-borne diseases (e.g., malaria, dengue).
    • Climate effects on water-borne pathogens and foodborne diseases.
  • Zoonotic Disease Emergence:
    • How climate change impacts microbial ecosystems that drive zoonotic disease emergence.
    • The role of microbes in cross-species transmission of emerging diseases.
  • Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):
    • The relationship between climate stress and the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
    • Environmental factors accelerating AMR development in microbial communities.
  • One Health Approaches:
    • Intersections of human, animal, and environmental microbiomes in the context of climate change.
    • Microbial shifts in urban versus rural environments and their health impacts.
  • Human Microbiome Responses to Environmental Changes:
    • How climate change affects the human gut microbiome and its implications for health.
    • The impact of environmental pollutants on microbial diversity in the human microbiome.
  • Pathogen Adaptation to New Ecosystems:
    • How changing environmental conditions create new habitats for existing pathogens.
    • Microbial species migration and adaptation in response to climate change.
Theme 3: Environmental Impacts and Ecosystem Restoration

Potential Topics:

  • Coral Reef Microbiomes:
    • Symbiotic relationships between corals and microbes in the face of climate change.
    • Microbial solutions for mitigating coral bleaching and enhancing coral resilience.
  • Soil Microbiome and Regenerative Agriculture:
    • The role of soil microbes in ecosystem restoration and regenerative agriculture practices.
    • Harnessing microbes for soil health improvement and increased biodiversity.
  • Aquatic Ecosystem Microbiology:
    • Microbial functions in freshwater and marine ecosystems affected by climate change.
    • Restoration of aquatic environments using microbial solutions to improve water quality.
  • Bioremediation:
    • Microbial degradation of pollutants and contaminants in the environment.
    • Harnessing microbes to restore habitats impacted by industrial activities or climate-related disasters.
  • Forest and Grassland Microbial Ecology:
    • The role of microbes in forest and grassland restoration, including nutrient cycling and decomposition.
    • Rewilding efforts supported by microbial inoculations to restore ecosystem functions.
  • Microbial Responses to Ecosystem Disturbances:
    • How microbial communities respond to natural disasters (e.g., wildfires, floods) and their role in ecosystem recovery.
    • Microbial shifts in disturbed versus undisturbed ecosystems.
  • Phytoremediation and Plant-Microbe Interactions:
    • Using plant-microbe partnerships to restore degraded landscapes.
    • The role of mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria in ecosystem recovery.
Additional Broad Topics Across Themes

Potential Topics: 

  • Microbial Genomics and Metagenomics:
    • Applications of genomics to study microbial diversity and functions in response to climate change.
    • Metagenomic studies to understand microbial shifts in different environments.
  • Microbial Innovations in Sustainability:
    • New technologies and innovations using microbes for sustainability, including wastewater treatment, energy production, and pollution control.
  • Microbial Modeling in Climate Predictions:
    • Using microbial data to inform climate models and predict ecosystem responses.