Microbial stories at the Science Picnic

On 13 June 2026, our group took part in the Science Picnic of Polish Radio and the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw, co-organizing the stand of the Faculty of Biology. This year’s event gathered many visitors interested in exploring science through hands-on activities, demonstrations, and direct conversations with researchers.

At our stand, the miniature model of a constructed wetland helped us explain how microorganisms support natural water purification and ecosystem functioning. We also presented agar plates with colorful bacterial cultures, including strains with unusual features that helped us tell stories about microbial diversity and adaptation. One of the highlights was Serratia marcescens, a true queen of science outreach. These examples opened the way to conversations about bacteria living in lakes and other freshwater ecosystems, their role in nutrient cycling, and their importance as indicators of environmental change.

The event was a great opportunity to share topics related to our research projects, including the role of microorganisms in urban water reservoirs, the spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment, and the use of microbial communities in nature-based solutions. We also showed how bacteria and fungi can be useful in agriculture, environmental management, and industry, especially food production. Visitors could test their knowledge in a quiz about microorganisms involved in producing different foods and learn which microbial properties make these processes possible.