Microbiology at the Nexus of Food, Energy, Water and Health

Microorganisms are absolutely critical to myriad aspects of the human existence. As a field of study, microbiology could and should serve a greater role on our campus, as it has key connections with many of the Destination and Strategic Growth Areas. We propose the development of a broad concept area in microbiology that will serve as a nexus, as it is applied to solve critical global challenges related to food, energy, water and health, by bridging across multiple disciplines at Virginia Tech (VT). There is increasing recognition of microbes as a driving force in natural and managed environments, biological processes, and ecological structure. Conversely, the importance of culture and individual behavior in affecting microbial communities has also become apparent....