Social Microbes

Social Microbes is a collaboration between Then Try This and Dr. Elze Hesse. Elze is a researcher working on the social behaviours of microbes, and how these behaviours could be changed through various interventions, in order to bring benefits like helping us to clean up mine waste, or helping crops to take up less heavy metals from polluted soil.

We selected three Social Microbes residents in 2023, and you can see documentation of their residencies below:

• Hat Porter at the Fish Factory: My life is worth living even if my tummy hurts sometimes
• Francesca Willow at Soul Farm: Open a window under my feet
• Tiff Leek at Wheal Martyn: Microbes in a post-industrial landscape

You can watch Elze's introductory talk for the residents to hear more about her research.

The details of the residency call are still available online, although it is now closed.

The project will continue with an AccessLab in 2024, and some citizen science with farmers from 2025-2028. All funded through Elze's UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship.