Laboratório de Ecologia Molecular e Extremófilos (LEMEx – UFSC)

The Biology Academic Center (CAbio) at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), supported by the Center for Biological Sciences (CCB) and the National Biology Students Association (ENEBio), will host the Regional Meeting of Biology Students – South (EREB-South) from September 3 to 7 at UFSC’s Ressacada Farm in Florianópolis.

Themed “Breaking Dormancy: Biology to be Lived”, EREB 2026 focuses on addressing local issues, particularly by listening to and supporting the needs of communities surrounding Ressacada Farm.

Registration costs R$ 100.00 and can be completed online via the event form. Registered attendees will receive a 35-hour certificate, as well as a presentation certificate for those sharing work.

For more details, visit the event’s Instagram page:
@erebsul2026.

The Academic Week of Biological Sciences has the following theme this year:

Evolution and Conservation: Understanding the Past to Preserve the Future

Event dates: August 31 to September 4, 2026

🦠 Featured Program: Special Lecture

As part of the program of the XXVI Academic Week of Biological Sciences at UFSC, we invite everyone to attend a special lecture by Prof. Rubens Tadeu Delgado Duarte:

“What Do Extremophilic Bacteria from Antarctica Tell Us About Climate Change?”

Date: August 31 (Monday)
Time: 4:00 PM

Stay tuned to the complete Academic Week program to check out the other activities, short courses, and scientific presentations!

Brazilian Congress of Microbiology 2027 to Be Held in Foz do Iguaçu

In 2027, Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, will host one of the major gatherings of the Brazilian and Latin American microbiology communities!

The Brazilian Congress of Microbiology (CBM) joins forces with the Latin American Congress of Microbiology (ALAM) and will take place from October 24 to 27 at the Rafain Palace Hotel & Convention in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná. The central theme, “Microbiology for a Sustainable Future,” is an invitation to the Latin American scientific community to discuss the role of microbiology in addressing the climate, environmental, and social challenges of our time.

Registration will open soon.

MIP5121 | Microbial Ecology

Course coordinator: Prof. Rubens T. D. Duarte

Offered: Every first semester

Course type: Elective course

Programs: Agronomy, Biological Sciences, and Environmental and Sanitary Engineering

Schedule: Monday – 15:10-18:00

Throughout the course, students explore topics including culture-dependent and culture-independent methods, environmental factors affecting microorganisms, biogeochemical cycles, interactions between microorganisms and other organisms, microbial population and community dynamics, and diversity indices.

The course also addresses applications of microbial ecology in environmental assessment, wastewater treatment, waste management, and bioremediation.

Practical Activities

The course combines theoretical content with laboratory activities, allowing students to explore different approaches to the study of environmental microbial communities.

Practical activities include:

• Preparation and monitoring of Winogradsky columns;

• Viable cell counting;

• Selection and cultivation of microbial isolates;

• Assessment of spore-forming, cellulolytic, and phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms;

• Assessment of photosynthetic microorganisms;

• Soil respiration assays;

• Studies of xenobiotic biodegradation.

Microbial Ecology and Biotechnology

The course also highlights the potential of microorganisms in environmental biotechnology, relating microbial ecology to the understanding of elemental cycles, waste and wastewater treatment, and bioremediation processes.

The course integrates theoretical knowledge, experimentation, and discussion of current topics, contributing to the education of students interested in environmental microbiology, microbial ecology, biotechnology, and environmental conservation.