Norwich Students Dive into Microbiology at Eastern’s Annual Tiny Earth Day

Eastern Connecticut State University recently held its third annual Tiny Earth Day, a biology symposium designed to engage high school students from Norwich Free Academy in microbiology. During the event, guided by Eastern's undergraduates, the students practiced laboratory techniques and learned about the impact of microbiology research. The symposium also showcased ongoing undergraduate research projects supervised by Professor Jonathan Hulvey.

High school students participated in lab demonstrations, applying their new skills to analyze soil samples collected near their school. These samples are part of the national Tiny Earth program, which aims to find new antibiotics from soil bacteria. This year, the Norwich students identified seven different bacterial species in their samples, which Eastern students further analyzed through DNA sequencing and biochemical tests.

The results of these analyses will be sent to the Tiny Earth Chemistry Hub at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where further studies will assess the bacteria's potential for antibiotic production. Professor Hulvey plans to include these findings in his research, highlighting the benefits of contributing to global science and improving educational outcomes.

Professor Hulvey noted that one of the main goals of Tiny Earth Day is to spark students' interest in research. By tackling real-world issues like antibiotic resistance, students can see the direct impact of their work and may be inspired to pursue careers in biology and research. The event also emphasized lab safety to teach students the importance of following proper scientific protocols.

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