Introducing the microbes and social equity working group: Considering the microbial components of social, environmental, and health justice

S.L. Ishaq, F.J. Parada, P.G. Wolf, C.Y. Bonilla, M.A. Carney, A. Benezra, E. Wissel, M. Friedman, K.M. DeAngelis, J.M. Robinson, A.K. Fahimipour, M.B. Manus, L. Grieneisen, L.G. Dietz, A. Pathak, A. Chauhan, S. Kuthyar, J.D. Stewart, M.R. Dasari, E. NonnamakerM. Choudoir, P.F. Horve, N.B. Zimmerman, A.J. Kozik, K.W. Darling, A.L. Romero-Olivares, J. Hariharan, N. Farmer, K.A. Maki, J.L. Collier, K.C. O'Doherty, J. Letourneau, J. Kline, P.L. Moses, N. Morar

Research output: Contribution to JournalReview articleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

© 2021 Ishaq et al. Humans are inextricably linked to each other and our natural world, and microorganisms lie at the nexus of those interactions. Microorganisms form genetically flexible, taxonomically diverse, and biochemically rich communities, i.e., microbiomes that are integral to the health and development of macroorganisms, societies, and ecosystems. Yet engagement with beneficial microbiomes is dictated by access to public resources, such as nutritious food, clean water and air, safe shelter, social interactions, and effective medicine. In this way, microbiomes have sociopolitical contexts that must be considered. The Microbes and Social Equity (MSE) Working Group connects microbiology with social equity research, education, policy, and practice to understand the interplay of microorganisms, individuals, societies, and ecosystems. Here, we outline opportunities for integrating microbiology and social equity work through broadening education and training; diversifying research topics, methods, and perspectives; and advocating for evidence-based public policy that supports sustainable, equitable, and microbial wealth for all.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere00471-21
JournalmSystems
Volume6
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Jul 2021
Externally publishedYes

Funding

We are grateful to the following funding agencies, who have supported the individuals in this group and their research efforts. S.L.I. is partially supported by the University of Maine through the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station (MAFES grant ME022102). F.J.P. is supported by the Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID) through the Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (FONDECYT) Iniciación en Investigación (program project no. 11180620 and regular project no. 1190610). P.G.W. is supported by a fellowship through the Cancer Education and Career Development Program (grant T32CA057699). E.W. is supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under grant 1937971. K.M.D. and M.C. are supported in part by the National Science Foundation Division of Environmental Biology under grant 1749206. A.K.F. is supported by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Mathematics National Research Council Associateship Program. A.J.K. is supported by an NIH F32 grant (no. 1F32HL150954-01). J.D.S. is supported by the Dutch Research Council (NWO/OCW) as part of the MiCRop Consortium program Harnessing the Second Genome of Plants (grant 024.004.014). N.F. is supported by intramural research funds from the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. K.A.M. is supported by intramural research funds from the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. J.L.C. is supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation’s Experiment Model Systems (grant 4982). K.C.O. is supported through research funds from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

FundersFunder number
Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo
Cancer Education and Career Development ProgramT32CA057699
National Science Foundation Division of Environmental Biology1749206
National Science Foundation1937971
National Institutes of Health1F32HL150954-01
NIH Clinical Center
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation4982
University of MaineME022102
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico1190610, 11180620
Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap024.004.014
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek

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