An Enlightening Evening to Remember | Small Things Considered

Figure 1. Two photos from the Volta experiment. Top was taken without a flash and bottom was taken with a flash from about the same location to give a sense of dimension. Source: David Westenberg Figure 1. Two photos from the Volta experiment. Top was taken without a flash and bottom was taken with a flash from about the same location to give a sense of dimension. Source: David Westenberg

Each summer, the Microbial Diversity course at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA is the place for exploring the incredible beauty and diversity of the microbial world. The 6 ½ week course brings together a group of strangers for the purpose of learning to cultivate and isolate microbes. The beauty of the course is bringing together a diverse group of individuals who all share a common bond – a love for microbes.

I had first learned about the course when I was an undergraduate at Michigan State and took the MSU microbial diversity course offered by John Breznak. I was thrilled to have the opportunity several years later to take the MBL course with John and Marty Dworkin in 1994. This was John and Marty’s final year as co-directors and they wrapped up their time running the course on a high-note with a wonderful array of guest lecturers and co-instructors. .

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