Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
This is a live-stream of the lecture. An edited version of the lecture will be uploaded in due course.
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https://app.sli.do/event/wQst4uUR15SDRPNjHqA7uA
A lecture by Helen Czerski
The mass of all the microbes on Earth is around 40 times the mass of all the animals. They are everywhere: in our bodies, in the soil, air and water, and in some of the most extreme environments on Earth. A microbe can be viewed as a very tiny biochemical factory, busy taking in some materials and giving out others as it lives and reproduces. Together, these tiny factories have an enormous influence on the rest of the planet. They break down waste products, photosynthesise, break down rocks and generally perform the small unseen functions that keep ecosystems functioning.
There is increasing evidence that human activities are changing the distribution and functioning of many microbes. But could we also work with microbes to solve some of our environmental problems? This lecture covers their importance, their functions and their potential to help us in the future.
The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website:
gresham.ac.uk/whats-on/managed-microbes
Gresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: gresham.ac.uk/support
Website: gresham.ac.uk
Twitter: twitter.com/greshamcollege
Facebook: facebook.com/greshamcollege
Instagram: instagram.com/greshamcollege
This is a live-stream of the lecture. An edited version of the lecture will be uploaded in due course.
Have a Question? No Registration Required
https://app.sli.do/event/wQst4uUR15SDRPNjHqA7uA
A lecture by Helen Czerski
The mass of all the microbes on Earth is around 40 times the mass of all the animals. They are everywhere: in our bodies, in the soil, air and water, and in some of the most extreme environments on Earth. A microbe can be viewed as a very tiny biochemical factory, busy taking in some materials and giving out others as it lives and reproduces. Together, these tiny factories have an enormous influence on the rest of the planet. They break down waste products, photosynthesise, break down rocks and generally perform the small unseen functions that keep ecosystems functioning.
There is increasing evidence that human activities are changing the distribution and functioning of many microbes. But could we also work with microbes to solve some of our environmental problems? This lecture covers their importance, their functions and their potential to help us in the future.
The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website:
gresham.ac.uk/whats-on/managed-microbes
Gresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: gresham.ac.uk/support
Website: gresham.ac.uk
Twitter: twitter.com/greshamcollege
Facebook: facebook.com/greshamcollege
Instagram: instagram.com/greshamcollege
