ASM’s MicrobeWorld Website Embraces Social Media for Science

The American Society for Microbiology announces a new and improved version of its MicrobeWorld website (www.microbeworld.org) for the Web 2.0 generation. Designed for science enthusiasts, students, teachers, parents and the general public, the updated site embraces new media from audio and video podcasts to RSS feeds and mobile “phonecasts.”

“MicrobeWorld is about making the science of microbiology as relevant and as accessible as possible,” said Barbara Hyde, Director of Communications for ASM. “By highlighting the increasing importance of microbes in the environment, biotechnology, alternative energy, food science and healthcare, we hope to capture the imagination of the public and inspire a new generation of scientists.”

MicrobeWorld is multimedia rich and incorporates many social media features. Video podcast episodes of ASM’s 4-hour documentary Intimate Strangers: Unseen Life on Earth and a half-hour documentary on the microbes at Yellowstone National Park are available to watch immediately or for download to MP3 players. A new “pop-up” flash podcast player allows people to listen to MicrobeWorld Radio, ASM’s daily audio news podcast, as they surf the web. The MicrobeWorld News RSS feed is updated with the latest in microbiology and life science-related news as it is published. And visitors can even subscribe or send the latest MicrobeWorld Radio episode to their cell phones.

MicrobeWorld also offers a comprehensive resources section for educators, parents, and students that includes experiments, lesson plans and tools for microbiology education. MicrobeWorld Radio's podcasts are currently being tied to the National Science Education Standards in a searchable database that educators can use to help initiate classroom discussions or build into curriculum.

“One of the exciting things about all of this new technology is its quick adoption by academia,” said Amy Chang, ASM Director of Education. “The increasing number of teachers, professors and students utilizing our on demand content is motivating us to create even more.”

The new MicrobeWorld website incorporates all of the content from microbe.org, washup.org and the previous version of microbeworld.org. Over 300 pages deep, the site contains introductory information about the science of microbiology, career profiles and interviews with some of the world’s leading researchers, surprising and interesting facts about microbial life, and a comprehensive photo galley highlighting some of the most studied microorganisms.

Development of MicrobeWorld will always be ongoing to accommodate user requests, suggestions and emerging technology. For more information, technical assistance or to learn how to become involved, please email ccondayan@asmusa.org.

The American Society for Microbiology is the largest single life science society, composed of over 42,000 scientists and health professionals. ASM’s mission is to advance the microbiological sciences as a vehicle for understanding life processes and to apply and communicate this knowledge for the improvement of health and environmental and economic well-being worldwide.

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