The Microbes and Social Equity speaker series 2024:“Don’t Stop Believin’: Managing student motivation on
the journey from descriptive to mechanism”, presented by Dr. Sonny Lee.
About the speaker: Dr. Lee is an Assistant Professor
at Kansas State University. He is an integrative microbiologist, with his work
grounded in the field of microbiology, ecology and molecular biology with
application to promote pro-health in human hosts, agriculture and the
environment. His research relies
heavily on bioinformatics, microbiological- and molecular techniques to
elucidate the mechanism of microbial populations in the contribution to the
well-being of the host. His lab investigates the
diversity and mechanism of the microbial population by looking at the
microbiome as a whole holobiont, while using a reductionist approach in
elucidating the role microbial populations play in maintaining the homeostasis
of the microbiome.
About the series: Microorganisms are critical to many aspects of biological life, including human health. The human body is a veritable universe for microorganisms: some pass through but once, some are frequent tourists, and some spend their entire existence in the confines of our body tissues. The collective microbial community, our microbiome, can be impacted by the details of our lifestyle, including diet, hygiene, health status, and more, but many are driven by social, economic, medical, or political constraints that restrict available choices that may impact our health. Access to resources is the basis for creating and resolving social equity—access to healthcare, healthy foods, a suitable living environment, and to beneficial microorganisms, but also access to personal and occupational protection to avoid exposure to infectious disease. This speaker series explores the way that microbes connect public policy, social disparities, and human health, as well as the ongoing research, education, policy, and innovation in this field.
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