The Institute of Agricultural Microbiology celebrates 60 years of activity

Immagini al microscopio

On 1 November, the Institute of General and Applied Microbiology of the Department of Agriculture will turn 60 years old. 
Sixty years ago, Professor Augusto Capriotti, called to hold the chair of Microbiology, founded the Institute.
Since then, the study and research activities and the development of the MBDS-UNISSCC University microbial collection have enabled it to become a point of reference for improving the quality and sustainability of agrifood production.
To celebrate this important anniversary, in November there will be many events dedicated to the role of microbial biodiversity in the ecological transition, including an exhibition, a conference and the inauguration of the new Laboratory dedicated to the MBDS-UNISSCC Microbial Collection.

 

THE PROGRAMME
 

- On Monday 4 November, at 9.30 a.m., the inauguration of the exhibition ‘Extraordinary Microorganisms’, which will be hosted in the atrium and cloister spaces of the University of Sassari's main campus (Piazza Università 21). On display are 44 electron microscope photographs, placed on 40 panels divided into 6 sections: viruses, bacteria and archaea, symbiosis, microalgae, yeasts and fungi. The exhibition will be open from Monday to Friday, free of charge and with the possibility for schools to book a guided tour, and will be promoted by the University as an orientation activity.



- Wednesday 6 November, at 11:00 am, the inauguration of the laboratory dedicated to the MBDS-UNISSCC Microbial Collection at the Department of Agriculture of the University of Sassari.
MBDS-UNISSCC was set up thanks to the MBDS project (Microbial Biodiversity of Sardinia), financed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry in collaboration with AGRIS Sardegna and the University of Cagliari, and is equipped with a federated and public database. It has implemented a Quality Management System and is ISO 9001:2015 certified thanks to the SUS-MIRRI project. Finally, it is an external microbial section of the regional germplasm bank (BRGAgriS).

 

- On Friday 8 November, starting at 9.00 a.m., the conference on ‘Microbial collections: a heritage of biodiversity at the service of the ecological transition’ will be held in the Aula Magna Barbieri with talks by Prof. Cristina Varese of the University of Turin and Prof. Carlo Viti of the University of Florence. This will be followed by speeches by Prof. Quirico Migheli and Prof. Luca Ruiu. The MBDS-UNISSCC collection website will also be presented.
To close the cycle of initiatives, on Friday 15 and Friday 29 November, from 10 a.m. in the Aula Magna of the Central University, two seminars will be held on the theme ‘Odi et amo and the long relationship between microorganisms and man’. The speakers will be Prof. Pier Luigi Fiori of the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Prof. Ilaria Mannazzu. 
These seminars will also be part of the orientation activities.