FEMS Joins Microbiology Leaders to Launch Global Climate Change Strategy

On 23 May 2025, leaders from microbiology organizations from around the world gathered in Washington, D.C., for the Global Strategy Meeting on Microbes and Climate Change. The goal was to unite behind a single, strategic vision for integrating microbial science into climate policy, innovation and public discourse.

While microbes play essential roles in carbon cycling, soil health, ocean systems and more, their impact has long been overlooked in climate models and solutions. This inaugural gathering marked the launch of a global alliance of microbiology organizations dedicated to changing that narrative.

The meeting identified 4 major principles to guide the path forward:

1. Speak with one global voice: Form a formal coalition of microbiology societies and partner organizations to strengthen credibility, expand political influence, attract new partners and amplify the microbiology community’s voice.
    
2. Embed microbial science in climate policy: Engage policymakers, funders, entrepreneurs and advocacy groups to ensure microbial science is reflected in climate strategies and investment decisions.
    
3. Tell the story & share the science: Use storytelling, advocacy and media strategies to elevate microbes in the climate conversation.
    
4. Launch high-impact demonstration projects: Pilot real-world demonstration projects (e.g., reducing fertilizer runoff and restoring soil microbiomes) that achieve measurable ecological and economic outcomes, foster trust and inform policy.

Published across 6 leading scientific journals, the strategy charts a path to integrate microbial science into global climate solutions.

Are you studying advances in microbial C1 metabolism?

FEMS Microbiology Ecology is inviting submissions for an upcoming thematic issue that will explore key aspects of this topic. Discover the full scope here.

Publish with purpose:

Looking for a place to publish your paper? The not-for-profit FEMS journals, run by, and for, microbiologists, publish rigorously peer-reviewed research to support the microbiology community.

Find all open calls for thematic issues submissions here. We have open access and free-to-publish submission options available. 

Immerse yourself within the dynamic world of microbiology with the #FEMSmicroBlog, your essential monthly resource for the latest news, recent studies, innovative discoveries, and insightful perspectives.

Explore our latest blog posts:

• Revealing the hidden diversity of wine yeasts - The surfaces of grapevines host a rich and dynamic microbiome that can influence vine health, grape quality, and ultimately, wine style. These microbial communities vary between wine regions and are shaped by grape variety, climate, geography, and vineyard practices. One well-adapted yeast species is of particular interest as discussed in the study “Genetic and phenotypic diversity of wine-associated Hanseniaspora species” presented by Cristobal Onetto.
   
• Halophile archaea healing themselves - DNA damage is a challenge faced by organisms of all domains. To maintain genome integrity, organisms thriving in extreme habitats, such as many archaea, rely heavily on repair pathways. The study “CRISPR–Cas induced self-targeting identifies key players in archaeal microhomology-mediated end joining” aims to shed light on how the halophile model organism Haloferax volcanii repairs DNA double-strand breaks fast and efficiently, as explained by Anna-Lena Sailer.

The #FEMSmicroBlog welcomes external bloggers, writers and SciComm enthusiasts. Get in touch if you want to share your idea for a blog entry with us.

Highlights from the FEMS Council Meeting

The annual FEMS Council meeting, held on 11-12 September in Seville, was a great success. Hosted by the Spanish Society of Microbiology, the two-day event gathered representatives from Member Societies across Europe. Attendees were inspired by flash talks on recent and exciting initiatives presented by various Member Societies.

During the Annual General Meeting, Jana Jass and Chris Thomas were re-elected to the FEMS Board for a second term. Their continued leadership, along with the commitment of all Member Societies, is integral to advancing science and strengthening the impact of microbiology for future generations.

Celebrating International Microorganisms Day 2025

IMD 2025 brought the global world of microbes to life on the 17 September with over 60 events held in 40 countries. From interactive workshops and school activities to online discussions, the global celebration showcased the creativity and collaboration of the microbiology community.

In addition to celebrating IMD, we would also like to congratulate the winners of the Microbe Art Competition. Five winners were chosen—one from each category—and we had the privilege of awarding the Grand Prize to Matthias Frank from Technische Universität Dresden.

His winning piece, a collage of a Bacillus subtilis biofilm, was creatively merged with a photograph of Berlin at night, taken by astronaut Chris Hadfield from the International Space Station. View the winner photograph below. 

The European Academy of Microbiology (EAM) is seeking a new President

The EAM is currently seeking a new President for a three-year term, starting on 1 January 2026. The ideal candidate will be a visionary leader ready to drive the EAM's mission forward. Applications are open until Monday, 13 October 2025, at 17:00 CEST.

Interested individuals should submit their CV, a letter of motivation, and the names of two supporting EAM Fellows. More information and the application form can be found on the FEMS website

The FEMS journals are run by microbiologists, and for microbiologists. Every article published by us has been rigorously reviewed for soundness of science by our community of academic peer reviewers – and the not-for-profit journals support the microbiology community.

Discover this year's most read papers (Jan - July 2025). These papers have sparked new discussions, inspired fresh lines of inquiry, and captured the attention of scholars, practitioners, and curious minds alike.

Here are the five most read papers from each of our seven FEMS journals so far this year. Click the links below to find them for each journal. 

• FEMS Microbiology Letters
   
• FEMS Microbiology Reviews
   
• FEMS Microbiology Ecology
   
• Pathogens and Disease (soon to be FEMS Infectious Diseases)
   
• FEMS Yeast Research
   
• FEMS Microbes
   
• microLife

Publish with purpose:

Looking for a place to publish your paper? FEMS journals, run by and for microbiologists, publish rigorously peer-reviewed research to support the microbiology community.

Find all open calls for thematic issues submissions here. We have open access and free-to-publish submission options available. 

Immerse yourself within the dynamic world of microbiology with the #FEMSmicroBlog, your essential monthly resource for the latest news, recent studies, innovative discoveries, and insightful perspectives.

Explore our latest blog posts:

• MicroMundo@Oeiras as a citizen science project to tackle antibiotic resistance - Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest health threats of our time. Every year, infections caused by resistant bacteria cause thousands of deaths and put immense pressure on healthcare systems. In this global battle, it is not just doctors and researchers who can make a difference. Citizens, too, can play a key role. Read the full blog and discover the idea behind the project and research.
   
• About the interactions between sugars from mother’s milk and the baby’s microbes - Milk sugars from the mother play a crucial role in the development of a baby’s gut microbiome. To explore the interactions between different sugars and the gut microbes in an infant, the study “Milk and mucin glycans orchestrate a synthetic infant gut microbiota structure” applies an in vitro synthetic community consisting of glycan degraders and cross-feeders. Maryse Berkhout explains this in detail. Read the full blog.
   
• Can we find new antibiotics from the Antarctic? - The Antarctic environment harbours diverse and abundant microbial communities, with many of its endemic species occurring nowhere else in the world. Bacteria living in Antarctic marine creatures are of interest because they produce chemicals with various functions. This study identified several new bacterial isolates and showed the antimicrobial capacity of two bacteria from an Antarctic Sea anemone, as explained by Kudzai Hwengwere. Read the full blog.

The #FEMSmicroBlog welcomes external bloggers, writers and SciComm enthusiasts. Get in touch if you want to share your idea for a blog entry with us.

Microbe Art 2025 Competition

Our much loved Microbe Art Competition is back, in support of International Microorganism Day on 17 September 2025. Help celebrate the wondrous world of microbes by getting creative and sharing your art.

Simply, post your creation on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn) with the hashtags #MicrobeArt2025 and #InternationalMicroorganismDay and tag @IntMicroDay. Find out more. 

FEMS MICRO 2025 Abstract Book Published

The FEMS MICRO 2025 Abstract Book is now available for download. FEMS MICRO Milan 2025 convened the global microbiology community to share exceptional research across a range of diverse topic tracks, including Eco Innovations, Health Horizons, Biotechnology, and Engagement & Growth. Download the Abstract Book.

10th International Conference on Polar and Alpine Microbiology

This meeting will build upon the success of the previous nine editions of the conference series. Our goal is to bring together global researchers to explore various aspects of microbial diversity, function, and activity of cold-adapted microorganisms in polar and alpine environments. The conference will provide a platform for discussing the latest developments in the field, fostering the exchange of ideas and experiences on an international scale. Visit the website to find out more. 

The FEMS journals are run by microbiologists, and for microbiologists. Every article published by us has been rigorously reviewed for soundness of science by our community of academic peer reviewers – and the not-for-profit journals support the microbiology community.