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Tiny Earth: A Big Idea for STEM Education and Antibiotic Discovery
Amanda Hurley1, Marc G Chevrette1, Deepa D Acharya1
1Wisconsin Institute for Discovery and Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Mbio
|February 17, 2021
Summary
The Tiny Earth course addresses STEM workforce shortages and antibiotic resistance by engaging undergraduates in scientific discovery. This program cultivates future scientists while identifying novel antibiotic compounds.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Education
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Global challenge of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens.
- Shortfall in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce.
- Need for innovative educational approaches to inspire scientific careers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce an undergraduate research course, Tiny Earth, designed to tackle two major global issues.
- To foster student interest and engagement in scientific research.
- To establish a pipeline for the discovery of new antibiotics.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of the Tiny Earth undergraduate research curriculum.
- Student-led exploration and identification of soil-dwelling bacteria.
- Screening of bacterial isolates for antimicrobial properties against pathogens.
Main Results:
- Successfully engaged undergraduate students in authentic scientific research.
- Generated a collection of bacterial isolates with potential antibiotic-producing capabilities.
- Provided a scalable model for antibiotic discovery and STEM workforce development.
Conclusions:
- The Tiny Earth course effectively addresses both STEM education and antibiotic discovery needs.
- Undergraduate research can be a powerful tool for tackling significant scientific challenges.
- This educational model offers a sustainable approach to combating antibiotic resistance.
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