Microbiology education and human stewardship of Planet Earth: The generational contract

A Road to Microbiology Literacy (and More): an Opportunity for a Paradigm Change in Teaching

“…We are all stewards and stakeholders. The world of the 21st century is very different from that of the 20th century: we are currently faced with polycrises ( https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/01/global-risks-report-2023-experts-davos2023/?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2793318_AgendaWeekly13January2023&utm_term=&emailType=Agenda%20Weekly ), including exceeding planetary boundaries and tipping points ( 4 – 7 ; https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-nine-tipping-points-that-could-be-triggered-by-climate-change/ ). These calamities have been created primarily by human overpopulation and the misguided belief that perpetual economic growth is both necessary and somehow sustainable, which are both rapidly exhausting planetary resources and promoting global warming by excessive production and release of greenhouse gases ( 8 – 10 ).…”

Scientific novelty beyond the experiment

“…Two recent articles have also focused on ways in which microbiology can also be used to inspire the curiosity of children in the classroom: ‘The urgent need for microbial literacy in society’ (Timmis et al, 2019 ) and ‘Visualizing the invisible: class excursions to ignite children's enthusiasm for microbes’ (McGenity et al, 2020 ). These articles were followed up with ideas and initiatives to engage children to act as multiplicators in the information‐dissemination pathway (Timmis et al, 2020 ), and to inform them about the notions of stewardship and stakeholders (Anand et al, 2023 ; Timmis, 2023 ), in order that they come to appreciate the manifold ways that microbes can contribute to solutions to crises currently faces as well as those on the horizon.…”

Microbiology education: a significant path to sustainably improve the human and biosphere condition

“…We are all stewards: of ourselves, our relationships with family and friends and what we do, our communities, nations, the planet (Timmis 2023a ). We all know that when we elect to have a hamburger or steak for dinner, it comes with a carbon footprint that has an impact on global warming and climate change, and an environmental footprint that includes eutrophication and oxygen minimum zones, loss of natural habitats and the biodiversity they house (Ceballos et al 2015 ), pollution of the environment with pesticides and other biologically active substances, and a number of other consequences.…”

“…Exerting our stewardship and stakeholder responsibilities is currently more important than ever before because the world is currently faced with multiple existential crises, including global warming and exceeded planetary boundaries (Rockström et al 2009 , Wang-Erlandsson et al 2022 ) and tipping points (Timmis 2023a , Lenton et al 2008 , Armstrong McKay et al 2022 , Box et al 2022 ; https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-nine-tipping-points-that-could-be-triggered-by-climate-change/ ), crises that exacerbate existing deficits and asymmetries in basic human resources, promote migrations, and can be sources of regional conflicts (Anand et al 2023 ). There is an urgent need to increase positive impacts and reduce negative impacts in order to lower the probability of humanity destroying the biosphere (Timmis and Hallsworth 2022 ).…”