How Getting Friendly with Bacteria Can Promote Student Appreciation of Microbial Diversity and Their Civic Scientific Literacy

Smyth, Davida S.; Chen, Simon; Sompanya, Geena; Metz, Molly; Conefrey, Theresa

doi:10.1128/jmbe.00055-22

J Microbiol Biol Educ.

2022

DOI: 10.1128/jmbe.00055-22

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How Getting Friendly with Bacteria Can Promote Student Appreciation of Microbial Diversity and Their Civic Scientific Literacy

Davida S. Smyth

Simon Chen

Geena Sompanya

et al.

Abstract: ePortfolios are digital repositories where students can curate papers, projects, and reflections from individual or multiple courses across the disciplines and in a variety of formats to showcase their learning. This transparent and portable medium, which enables students to document their knowledge and abilities for assessment and career development, has been recognized by the American Association of Colleges and Universities as one of 11 high-impact practices.

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Cited by 2 publications

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Developing microbiology literacy in biology education college: future teacher candidates

Fidiastuti,

Lestari,

‌

et al. 2024

J Microbiol Biol Educ.

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Recently, several articles have reflected on the existence of microorganisms in supporting the life and health of living creatures as the beginning of the emergence of microbiology literacy. In the curriculum, understanding the activity of microorganisms has been studied from pre-school, elementary school, and middle school to college. The presence of microorganisms is often associated as a cause of disease. As a result, most students know the negative impact of microorganisms but have not discovered the fundamental role of microorganisms in their lives. Special attention needs to be given as a form of effort to strengthen microbiology literacy. Several studies state that students have an important role in disseminating the concept of sterilization, maintaining a safe distance, and using masks as generally applicable protocols during the pandemic. Therefore, with the aim that microorganisms have an important role, both directly and indirectly and to curb negative perceptions of microorganisms, we propose microbiology competencies among biology education students, who are future teaching candidates. This article identifies the complex challenges of 21st-century microbiology learning and the OECD framework. This approach includes the use of pedagogical interventions with the main objectives: (i) knowledge (to teach fundamental microbiology knowledge, (ii) skills (to increase awareness in recognizing and solving real-life problems), and (iii) attitudes and values (to explain the contribution of microbiology in supporting life).

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Developing microbiology literacy in biology education college: future teacher candidates

Fidiastuti,

Lestari,

‌

et al. 2024

J Microbiol Biol Educ.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Examination of public perceptions of microbes and microbiomes in the United States reveals insights for science communication

Kokkinias,

Pruneski,

Wrighton

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Within a changing research and media landscape, misconceptions and misinformation about microorganisms and microbiomes can arise, necessitating improvements in science communication practices through insights in public perceptions of the microbial world. Yet, little is known about public perceptions of microorganisms and microbiomes, making it difficult to develop tailored messaging. Here we perform an inductive thematic analysis with interviews and surveys from thirty adults across the United States to identify key factors to enhance microbial science communication efforts. Together, our results underscore the importance of 1) recognizing the existing and desired future knowledge of an audience, 2) aligning with broader socio-scientific issues that resonate with people in relevant channels using social networks, 3) fostering collaboration between microbiologists, social scientists, and communicators to improve messaging, and 4) appealing to people’s values and emotions to establish meaningful connections. This study concludes that non-microbial interests, such as an interest in health and wellness, may lead to acquisition of microbial knowledge and that people want scientists to share microbial messages preferably on platforms like social media. Additionally, we identified confusion about microbial terms and a desire to understand human-centric benefits of microorganisms and microbiomes. We suggest that microbiologists partner with science communicators to develop microbial messaging, capitalizing on connections to non-microbial interests and appealing to people’s microbial worldview.

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How Getting Friendly with Bacteria Can Promote Student Appreciation of Microbial Diversity and Their Civic Scientific Literacy

Cited by 2 publications

References 9 publications

Developing microbiology literacy in biology education college: future teacher candidates

Developing microbiology literacy in biology education college: future teacher candidates

Examination of public perceptions of microbes and microbiomes in the United States reveals insights for science communication

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