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Microbiology and Climate Change: a Transdisciplinary Imperative
J T Lennon1, S D W Frost2,3, N K Nguyen4
1Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
Mbio
|February 1, 2023
Summary
Transdisciplinary collaboration is essential for tackling climate change, especially the role of microorganisms. Diverse teams offer critical insights into emerging pathogens, harmful blooms, and disease prediction for effective climate solutions.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Climate change presents complex, interconnected challenges requiring interdisciplinary solutions.
- Traditional scientific approaches are insufficient to address the accelerating impacts of climate change.
- Microorganisms play a critical, yet often overlooked, role in climate change dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the necessity of transdisciplinary approaches in climate change research.
- To demonstrate how diverse teams provide unique insights into climate-related microbial issues.
- To advocate for the integration of microbiology into broader climate action strategies.
Main Methods:
- Case studies illustrating transdisciplinary insights into fungal pathogen range expansion.
- Analysis of technological solutions for mitigating harmful cyanobacterial blooms.
- Utilizing extensive monitoring networks for predicting microbial diseases and vector populations.
Main Results:
- Diverse teams offer novel perspectives on climate-driven microbial phenomena.
- Transdisciplinary efforts yield actionable insights for emerging fungal pathogens.
- Technological and predictive models are enhanced through collaborative, multi-faceted approaches.
Conclusions:
- Microbiologists must engage beyond their expertise to contribute to transdisciplinary climate teams.
- Open-minded collaboration is key to developing scalable technologies and adoptable policies for climate mitigation.
- Integrating diverse scientific and policy perspectives is crucial for addressing the microbial dimensions of climate change.
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