Bridging Scales to Unveil the Power of Environmental Microbiology

As one of the longest running of all Gordon Research Conferences, Applied and Environmental Microbiology (AEM) continues to provide a unique forum for discussing cutting-edge research that advances our understanding and increases our appreciation of the oldest lifeforms on Earth. Its success and resilience results from the profound influence that microorganisms have on Earth, driving evolution, sustaining the environment, influencing ecosystem and human health, and catalyzing reactions that solve anthropogenic issues and push the bioeconomy.

The 2025 AEM GRC will explore microbiology across scales to understand breakthroughs in the applied and environmental aspects of the unseen majority of organisms on our planet. Applied and environmental microbiology is the realm of problem solvers and crosses temporal, organismal, and spatial scales to advance unique solutions that address critical global challenges. This GRC will highlight cutting-edge studies that shed light on what governs novel forms of life today and how we can exploit microbial functions for broad applications that bridge scales across biomes, organisms, and trophic levels. We will explore how organismal and spatial scales influence microbial applications across natural, industrial, and clinical environments and within a One Health framework. Understanding temporal change across history is needed for highlighting the ever-present relationship between microbes and the changing environment. Research across all lineages of life (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes, and viruses) in natural and synthetic communities, and holobionts in an applied context will be showcased. Topics will include fundamental environmental microbiology studies, biogeochemical cycling, critical mineral recovery, waste and energy storage, bioremediation, climate change, monitoring, emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS and microplastics), and diseases (e.g., zoonotic).