17 September marks International Microorganism Day, an initiative created by the Portuguese Society of Microbiology to commemorate Anton van Leeuwenhoek’s first observation and description of unicellular organisms. The day aims to raise public awareness, particularly among younger generations, of the crucial role of microorganisms and scientific research in areas such as health, the environment, industry, the economy and quality of life.
To celebrate this important day, GHTM | IHMT NOVA is participating in various activities that bring microbiology closer to the community and showcase the outstanding research being conducted in this field.
This year’s programme brings together researchers and institutions from Portugal and the Portuguese-speaking scientific community, while also celebrating Portuguese microbiologists whose work has crossed national borders.
(Luso)Microbial Connections’26 – Microbiology Shaping the Future
The Universidade de Coimbra, representing the Sociedade Portuguesa de Microbiologia (SPM) and in partnership with IHMT NOVA, is hosting Portugal’s flagship celebration of International Microorganism Day under the theme “(Luso)Microbial Connections’26 – Microbiology Shaping the Future”.
Taking place online from 12:00 to 15:00, the event builds on the success of previous editions held since 2024. It aims to celebrate microbiology and its impact on society — including its contributions to biotechnology — while promoting the dissemination of research conducted in Portuguese and strengthening connections across the Portuguese-speaking scientific community.
The initiative brings together participants from Portugal, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Angola, Mozambique and Macau, creating a platform for scientific exchange and collaboration across borders.
A central feature of the event is the “Five-Minutes of Fame”, in which professors, researchers and students present a published article, scientific project or significant research finding in a short, approximately five-minute video. The contributions are organised by country in a “follow-the-sun” sequence, creating a continuous global showcase of Lusophone microbiology.
IHMT NOVA will be in the spotlight with the video “Drug Repositioning – IHMT NOVA’s Strategy to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance”, featuring three PhD students — Mariana Andrade, Débora Marques and Inês Pereira. Conducted as part of the PRIME-GHTM Research Group, this research explores drug repositioning as a strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance, with a particular focus on efflux mechanisms, using organisms and experimental models such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus spp. and the Galleria mellonella model.
Representing IHMT NOVA at the event is Miguel Viveiros, Deputy Director of IHMT NOVA and Coordinator of the GHTM R&D Unit, highlighting the Institute’s active involvement in this celebration and its commitment to strengthening scientific connections within the Portuguese-speaking community.
The event is open to both the scientific community and the wider Portuguese-speaking public and will be streamed online through the SPM YouTube channel.
International Microorganism Day at the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon – Portuguese Microbiologists of the Diaspora
As part of the celebrations, the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon is organising a conference dedicated to the Portuguese scientific diaspora. Under the theme “Portuguese Microbiologists of the Diaspora”, the event brings together researchers working abroad, combining scientific presentations with a discussion on the opportunities, challenges and motivations associated with pursuing a scientific career abroad.
Each invited researcher will present their academic and professional journey, institution and research field, followed by an open discussion addressing international scientific mobility, the challenges of working abroad and the perspectives it can offer to young researchers.
Miguel Viveiros will also participate in the event, contributing to the debate “Portuguese Microbiologists in the Diaspora: A Reflection on International Microorganism Day”.
The 2026 programme follows the fifth International Microorganism Day celebration held at the Academy in 2025, which explored the history of microbiology in Portugal, from the Vaccine Institution to the first Pasteurians. Through exhibitions, a roundtable and a monograph, the initiative highlighted the pioneers who explored the microbial world and translated scientific knowledge into benefits for society.
This year, the focus on Portuguese microbiologists working abroad reflects the inherently international nature of microbiology. Microorganisms and the science dedicated to understanding them know no borders, and progress in microbiology is driven by international collaboration, scientific mobility and the exchange of ideas.
By recognising the contributions of the Portuguese scientific diaspora to global knowledge, the initiative also aims to inspire new generations of researchers to pursue scientific careers without borders.
The event will take place in a hybrid format and can be followed live via Zoom and on the Lisbon Academy of Sciences’ YouTube channel. The programme can be viewed HERE.
Getting to Know the Microorganisms That Are Part of Our Daily Lives
To make science more accessible to the community, GHTM | IHMT NOVA has organised a special social media campaign.
Led by David Pires, a researcher from the PRIME-GHTM Research Group, the initiative is based on a practical laboratory experiment involving the collection of samples from everyday surfaces, such as lift and bus buttons, coins, door handles and mobile phone screens. These samples were subsequently cultured under controlled conditions.
The initiative demystifies the presence of microorganisms in everyday life in a simple, visual and accessible way, reminding us that their presence is natural and not necessarily synonymous with danger or poor hygiene. It also highlights the importance of interpreting experimental results within their scientific context.
Want to see how the experiment went? Watch the video to follow the whole process and discover the science behind it HERE!
Celebrating Microbiology and Scientific Connections
Through its participation in these initiatives, GHTM | IHMT NOVA contributes to a broader celebration of microbiology and the role it plays in addressing global health challenges. From research and innovation to international collaboration and scientific mobility, International Microorganism Day provides an opportunity to recognise the diversity of research and the people working to advance our understanding of the microbial world.
On 17 September, these celebrations connect researchers, institutions and communities across countries and continents — demonstrating that microbiology is not only about microorganisms, but also about the connections that science creates between people.
