BioBE researcher Jeff Kline participated in a colloquium titled “The Microbiology of Built Environments”. The event was hosted by the American Academy of Microbiology, the honorific branch of the American Society of Microbiology (ASM), and was held on Sept. 9, 2015, in Washington, D.C. A small group of individuals with a wide breadth of knowledge on the topic were invited to examine the state-of-the-art of research into microbial ecosystems found in built environments. The day’s deliberations addressed questions including research methods, factors impacting the composition of microbial communities, health, microbial metabolic effects on built environment chemistry, ways of encouraging scientific collaboration, and the implications of the research for the creation and use of built environments. The discussions will result in the publication of a report aimed at ASM’s membership and one or more publications for other audiences.
