Growsafe: A Chemical Method To Deactivate Cultivated Microorganisms Using Low-Cost Kitchen Supplies

One limitation to engaging K-12 students and the public with microorganisms is the inability to cultivate and dispose of bacterial and fungal samples safely without expensive equipment or services. This barrier has been amplified with remote learning modalities and laboratory closures driven by safety precautions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At-home lab kits are being used to bring hands-on experience in microorganism cultivation to students learning remotely, but these kits often fail to take into full consideration the safety aspects or the costs associated with microorganism disposal, limiting which experiments can be performed at home. Here, we outline a method that makes cultivating and deactivating microorganisms accessible to the public through low-cost and readily available equipment. This method reduces exposure to microorganisms by forgoing the need to open petri plates for chemical deactivation with sanitizing reagents. This technique may benefit remote K-12 and postsecondary students, students wishing to get hands-on microbiology research experience, and members of the public interested in cultivating microorganisms to contribute to citizen science efforts or for creative art applications.