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The Microbial Unknown

Are ALL viruses dangerous? Many play important roles for humans. They help us (and ask little in return). Anne Madden, Ph.D. will briefly describe a few. You might be surprised to find out what’s living on your face!

Published onAug 16, 2022
The Microbial Unknown
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Abstract

Are ALL viruses dangerous? Many play important roles for humans. They help us (and ask little in return). Anne Madden, Ph.D. will briefly describe a few. You might be surprised to find out what’s living on your face!

Anne Madden is an award-winning scientist, serial entrepreneur, and science communicator. Her mission is to explore the microbes around us and find new ways they can make our lives better. Dr. Madden received her BA from Wellesley College and her PhD from Tufts University where she was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Colorado and North Carolina State University as an Alfred P. Sloan Postdoctoral Fellow. She has over a dozen peer-reviewed publications and has developed, licensed, and patented microbial applications across the fields of pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and food and beverage technology. She is a 5x TED/TEDx speaker and recently founded The Microbe Institute, an organization dedicated to fostering microbial discovery through interdisciplinary initiatives.

Explore The Microbial Unknown (Anne Madden)

This video was originally produced for an audience of entering first-year and transfer students at NC State University as a part of an interdisciplinary experience. It is available for noncommercial reuse under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial 4.0 License, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.

Follow Along with Dr. Madden’s Olfactory Activity

If possible, please have the following on hand while you are watching the recording:

  • A piece of bread - can be a heel of a loaf, fresh-made bread, or a hot dog bun.

  • A handful of soil in a bag. Best if pre-wetted prior to the event. This can also be a potted plant that you have near you when watching.

  • A tube of toothpaste - any brand will do.

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS

  1. The Community of Microbes

    • This is a science + art + and augmented reality technology digital exhibit co-created by Dr. Anne Madden with an artist to reveal the science of microbes that live nearest us. A number of NC State faculty also served as advisors on this project.

  2. Lachancea (pronounced la.chance.ee.ah) 

    • In this 2016 TEDx talk, Dr. Anne Madden discusses the discovery that led to this company, Lachancea. The company, which now helps brewers produce award-winning fermented beverages in Japan and the US.

  3. Meet the Microscopic Life in Your Home—And on Your Face! by Dr. Anne Madden (TEDTalk)

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