Microbes and Social Equity Working Group wins AMI Horizon Award for advancing inclusion in science
The Microbes and Social Equity (MSE) Working Group has been named the team winner of the Dorothy Jones Diversity and Inclusion Achievement Award 2025, part of the Applied Microbiology International (AMI) Horizon Awards.
The AMI Horizon Awards celebrate individuals, teams, and organizations shaping the future of applied microbiology. The Dorothy Jones Award, in particular, recognizes those advancing equity, inclusion, and representation within science, honoring the legacy of microbiologist Dorothy Jones, a pioneering advocate for diversity in STEM.
Accepting the award on behalf of the MSE Board of Directors, Dr. Sue Ishaq, Associate Professor of Microbiomes at the University of Maine, said:
“Microbial exposures across ecosystems, settlements, cultures, and individuals are sociopolitical, and the mission of the Microbes and Social Equity Working Group is to connect microbiology with social equity research, education, policy, and practice to understand the interplay of microorganisms, individuals, societies, and ecosystems.
Collectively, MSE seeks to generate and communicate knowledge that sparks evidence-based public policy and practice, supporting equity and sustainability for all.”
Founded in 2020, the MSE network brings together researchers, practitioners, and community partners to explore how microbiomes intersect with issues of health, justice, and sustainability. Its members collaborate across disciplines—from ecology and anthropology to public health and data science—to build a more equitable and inclusive understanding of microbial systems and their role in human and environmental wellbeing.
The award recognizes MSE’s ongoing work to address inequities in microbial exposures, access to healthy environments, and participation in science itself. Through its seminar series, publications, and community initiatives, MSE continues to expand the conversation about how microbes shape society, and how society, in turn, shapes microbial worlds.
The full list of winners of the AMI Horizon Awards 2025, include categories spanning global impact, food security, public health, biodiversity, and policy translation.