Expanding Access to Microbiome Research and Tools to Improve Human and Environmental Health - A Discussion Among Societal Stakeholders

Join us for a conversation with 3 leading experts in research, education, and community engagement to discuss how microbial research applies to our daily lives. Light refreshments will be served.

Microbiome research drives modern breakthroughs in human health, agriculture, and environmental restoration. Equal access to advanced analytical tools, policies, and shared knowledge remains uneven across diverse institutional bodies. This two-hour session brings together 3 panelists with experience working in academia, applied microbiome research, education, policy, and outreach. Panelists will discuss potential barriers, share implementable resources, and translational channels for equitable access to microbiome science across all fields. The event will combine a panel discussion followed by roundtables with each panelist to foster dialogue. We invite students, early-career researchers, faculty, and community members, who will leave the event with ideas for collaborations, open-source tools, and training pathways in the microbiome sciences.

This panel is hosted by the 2026 Fellows of the Center of Excellence in Microbiome Sciences and supported by UMD's Grand Challenges Grants Program.

Speakers

Amy R. Sapkota

Mpower Professor & Chair, Department of Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health, University of Maryland

John Adam Frederick

Maryland Sea Grant, Asst. Director of Education, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology

Thomas Fazio

Compost manager at Ecocity Farms