The American Academy of Microbiology (Academy), the honorific leadership group and scientific think tank at ASM, works to recognize scientists for outstanding contributions to microbiology and provide microbiological expertise in the service of science and the public. Currently, climate change is an eminent global threat to human existance. Many researchers in and outside of the microbial sciences have raised concerns and called for definitive actions urgently. To address this momentous challenge, the Academy created a 5-year scientific portfolio to focus on promoting the understanding of the relationship between microbes and climate change and building a scientific framework to inform climate change policies and market innovations. This portfolio aligns with the call from health experts and leading journals to emphasize climate change as a pubic health threat.

Understanding Relationships of Climate Change & Microbes

Over the next 5 years, the Academy will conduct a series of activities to broaden the scientific understanding about climate change and microbes. The relationship between climate change and microbes constantly evolves and is not often examined in the context of human well-being. This portfolio aims to understand the trio’s dynamic by bringing together experts in different fields to discuss and build a scientific framework to support the academic, policy and business communities to take actions in various areas to tackle climate change.

The 5 main scientific focuses for the scientific portfolio on climate change are the following:

• Highlight microbes' role in planetary carbon atmospheric flows and their utilization in bioprocesses to reduce CO₂ emissions.
• Explore interventions to reduce exposure to harmful microbes and maintain ecosystems that limit exposure to zoonotic diseases.
• Understand the role of microbial communities in environmentally sustainable agricultural systems and soil health.
• Study the science and technology behind the use of microbes as greener solutions, such as biofuels and bioenergy, and address the scientific barriers to help accelerate the transfer of the technology in market solutions.
• Identify infrastructural resources and gaps in data collection and curation and support collaborations in data sharing to improve understanding, prediction, and management.

The scientific portfolio also aims to urge researchers worldwide and in diverse disciplines to respond and develop solutions for the climate crisis that threatens our environment and human lives in a timely manner. The Academy invities all those interested in contributing to scientific portfolio activities to contact academy@asmusa.org.

Support this crucial work by donating to the American Academy of Microbiology scientific portfolio. When donating please select “American Academy of Microbiology” in the drop down menu on the donation form.

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