The Microbes and Social Equity Working Group (MSE) has been named as the team winner of the Dorothy Jones Diversity & Inclusion Achievement Award.

Microbes and Social Equity Working Group

The prize is part of the Applied Microbiology International Horizon Awards 2025, which celebrate the brightest minds in the field and promote the research, group, projects, products and individuals who continue to help shape the future of applied microbiology.

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The Dorothy Jones Diversity and Inclusion Achievement Award honours Dorothy Jones’ commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within STEM. 

This award acknowledges individuals or organisations that have made significant strides in these areas. It celebrates initiatives that dismantle barriers to participation and representation, especially for underrepresented groups, and recognises inclusive research and experimental design and practice. 

Microbial exposures are sociopolitical

Accepting the award on behalf of the MSE Board of Directors, Dr Sue Ishaq, Associate Professor of Microbiomes, University of Maine, said: “Microbial exposures across ecosystems, settlements, cultures, and individuals are sociopolitical, and the mission of the Microbes and Social Equity Working Group is to connect microbiology with social equity research, education, policy, and practice to understand the interplay of microorganisms, individuals, societies, and ecosystems. 

“Collectively, MSE seeks to generate and communicate knowledge that sparks evidence-based public policy and practice, supporting equity and sustainability for all.  

“MSE addresses health disparities and inequitable access to public and natural resources, which cause adverse microbial exposures or failure to recruit beneficial ones, which worsen disparities in social and environmental health outcomes. MSE welcomes members from all disciplines and research focuses, with the intent of fostering interdisciplinary collaboration from our members to empower their own work and make a positive impact.

Conversation becomes global research community 

“What began as a conversation in 2019, became a group of several dozen researchers in 2020, and has grown to a global research community of several hundred members led by MSE Founder, Dr. Sue Ishaq; current Board of Directors, Drs. Amber Benezra, Carla Bonilla, Katherine Darling, Laura Grieneisen, Maya Hey, Patrick Horve, Aviâja Lyberth Hauptmann, Kieran O’Doherty, Katherine Maki, Patricia Wolf, and Secretary Ashley Toney; as well as current Global Classroom Curriculum Coordinator Erin Eggleston.”

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