Exhibition: “Cultures and Microcosms: From the Laboratory to the Classroom”
The Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) Central Library hosted the exhibition “Cultures and Microcosms: From the Laboratory to the Classroom – A Petri Dish Exhibition” from September 18 to 27, 2024, in the Main Hall Exhibition Gallery. The exhibition was organized by the Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Extremophiles (LEMEx) at UFSC.
LEMEx, coordinated by Prof. Dr. Rubens Tadeu Delgado Duarte, is located in the Center for Biological Sciences (CCB/UFSC), Building E, 7th floor, Room 711. The laboratory conducts research in microbial ecology, biotechnology, and astrobiology, with a particular focus on microorganisms that inhabit extreme environments. Its research integrates molecular markers with bioinformatics analyses of omics data, including genomics, metagenomics, and metatranscriptomics.
In addition to advanced molecular approaches, LEMEx employs both classical and modern microbial cultivation techniques to isolate and characterize extremophilic microorganisms. Many microorganisms can be cultivated under laboratory conditions using culture media that provide water and essential nutrients, including energy sources (typically sugars) and elements required for biosynthesis and metabolism, particularly nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus.
Solid culture media enable the growth and isolation of individual microbial colonies on their surface. Each colony typically originates from a single colony-forming unit (CFU), usually a single bacterial cell, and is therefore assumed to represent a single strain and species.
These solid media are prepared by adding 1–2% agar, a mixture of agarose and agaropectin derived from algae. After sterilization by autoclaving, the medium is cooled and poured into Petri dishes, where it solidifies. The resulting gel matrix provides water and nutrients that support microbial growth after inoculation onto the agar surface.
The exhibition highlighted the scientific and educational value of microbial cultures, demonstrating how Petri dishes serve not only as essential research tools but also as effective resources for science communication and teaching.
Organized by: UFSC University Library (BU/UFSC) Exhibitions.
