by: Fantastic Microbes Team | data 09/04/2025
Did you know that microbes aren’t just “bad guys” but are actually essential for our survival?
Your body contains more microbial cells (the microbiome) than human cells. Yet, over 99% of microbial species remain unknown. These tiny organisms regulate ecosystem balance, purify air, soil, and water, and support our health. However, their extraordinary role is often ignored or misunderstood.
It’s time to change our perspective!
During the Bicocca Sampling Days, about 80 students collected 2,400 urban microbiome samples from squares and green spaces at the University of Milan-Bicocca. Now, we’re ready for the next step: analyzing the microbial DNA of 200 samples and providing students with something they often lack—cutting-edge training in microbiome data analysis.
With Fantastic Microbes and Where to Find Them, we want to give microbes the recognition they deserve, starting with our cities.
Every Contribution Has a Direct Impact on Research and Education:
✅ Sequencing the microbial DNA of 200 samples collected during the Bicocca Sampling Days.
✅ Organizing a hands-on workshop for 20 university students, teaching them how to analyze microbiome data and write scientific reports.
✅ Bringing science beyond the lab and sharing it with everyone! Promoting a new, accurate perspective that debunks myths about microbes and connects the public with research.
Our project has been selected by a2a and Thales Alenia Space, who believe in our mission and have chosen to support us in a tangible way: if we manage to raise at least €5,000 through crowdfunding, they will contribute an additional €5,000.
In other words: we raise €5,000, and it becomes €10,000!
This is a unique opportunity to give real strength to our project—but we need your help to make it happen.
Please note: this campaign follows the "all or nothing" model.
If we don’t reach at least €5,000, no donations will be collected, and the opportunity will be lost.
Every contribution counts. Support us and double your impact!
By donating to this campaign, you are supporting much more than just a scientific project—you are investing in the future of research and the education of new scientists. Thanks to your contribution, we can give students the opportunity to become active participants in scientific discovery.
1️⃣ Unveiling urban microbial biodiversity. Microorganisms are all around us, yet we still know little about their role in our urban spaces. By analyzing their DNA, we can discover how they impact our health and the environment.
2️⃣ Training the scientists of tomorrow. We want to offer a free, hands-on, and innovative workshop to a selected group of deserving university students. By giving them the unique opportunity to work with real data and develop advanced bioinformatics skills, they will gain essential tools for the science of the future
3️⃣ Bust myths. Not all microbes are enemies! We want to tell their true story, share the results of our research, and change the way we view these invisible yet vital organisms for life on Earth.
By characterizing these microbial communities, we aim to transform the way people see microbes, recognizing them as new symbols of biodiversity.
We want to train the scientists of tomorrow so they can continue this mission and become ambassadors of this message, inspiring as many people as possible—just like you—to protect the invisible biodiversity that sustains life!
We are an interdisciplinary team of researchers, students, engineers, educators, and biotechnologists from Italy and the United States, representing three different organizations:
1️⃣ University of Milan-Bicocca: A young and leading research university in Italy.
2️⃣ KBase: A U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) bioinformatics platform that supports open-access scientific data and education.
3️⃣ Simbio: An organization dedicated to science communication and environmental education, making research accessible to all.
We believe that science should be open and available to everyone. Together, with your support, we can make a real impact.
Donate Now and Join Us: Support Fantastic Microbes!
Your contribution will help us reveal the hidden world of microbes, train future scientists, and transform the way we perceive these incredible organisms.
We promise you: after this journey, you will never look at your city the same way again!
Siamo un team interdisciplinare di ricercatori, studenti, ingegneri, pedagogisti e biotecnologi provenienti dall’Italia e dagli Stati Uniti, da tre realtà differenti: *Università di Milano-Bicocca* Antonia Bruno – Coordinatrice del progetto, microbiologa ed esperta in educazione scientifica. Giulia Ghisleni – Dottoranda in Microbiologia e artista indipendente, combina competenze scientifiche con esperienza nella comunicazione visiva e nell'illustrazione scientifica, collaborando con istituzioni accademiche ed editoriali. Sara Fumagalli – Ricercatrice post-doc specializzata in bioinformatica, con un focus sull'analisi di dati metagenomici. Alice Armanni – Dottoranda in Microbiologia, con un approccio critico e pragmatico. Esperta nell'organizzazione di eventi e nell’interazione con il pubblico. Giulia Soletta – Biologa con un forte interesse per la bioinformatica ed esperienza nello sviluppo di software back-end a supporto della ricerca microbiologica. Laura Colombo – Biologa appassionata di microbioma alimentare e del suo impatto sulla salute e sul benessere umano. *KBase* Ellen Dow – Responsabile del programma KBase Educators e co-PI di MICROnet, guida una rete di formazione dedicata al microbioma per studenti e docenti negli Stati Uniti. Elisha Wood-Charlson – Responsabile dell'Engagement Utenti per KBase e co-PI di MICROnet, microbiologa con esperienza nella gestione di progetti e nella promozione di un’educazione inclusiva. *Simbio* Guido Scaccabarozzi – Ingegnere per l’ambiente ed il territorio, esperto nella valutazione degli impatti ambientali e nella quantificazione dei servizi ecosistemici. Gloria Mantegazza – Pedagogista specializzata in progetti partecipativi e organizzazione di eventi. Margherita Aiesi – Biotecnologa esperta in ambito di sostenibilità e organizzatrice di eventi incentrati sul valore dell’outdoor experience. Crediamo che la scienza debba essere aperta e inclusiva. Insieme a te possiamo fare la differenza.
