Marine Microbiome Working Group

08/05/2026

08/05/2026

NOAA Ocean Exploration, in partnership with the National Systematics Laboratory of NOAA Fisheries, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's Ocean DNA Program, and NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), has released the first eDNA data from expeditions on NOAA S...

08/05/2026

When people hear “microbiome”, they often think of the gut but microbiomes are found across many parts of your body.

Microbes live on your skin, in your mouth, in your gut, and in other body sites. Each community is different, and researchers are learning more about how these microbes can support health and wellbeing.

In part two of 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, we look at where the microbiome is found and why these tiny communities matter.

Created by APC Microbiome Ireland for World Microbiome Day.

08/05/2026

Beneath the crashing waves and roaring storms, the deep ocean is calm—but teeming with microbial life.

New research shows that water masses shaped by slow-moving ocean currents create distinct microbial communities.

Read more via the link in the comments.

08/05/2026

📢 New training opportunity: Environmental DNA (eDNA)

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO's OceanTeacher Global Academy, in collaboration with the UN Ocean Decade Capacity Development Facility and IOC Sub-Commission for Africa and the Adjacent Island States (IOCAFRICA), is pleased to announce a regional eDNA training course for Africa and the adjacent island States.

This training will provide participants with a strong theoretical foundation and hands‑on experience in environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques, supporting the application of innovative tools for marine biodiversity assessment and ecosystem monitoring.

By the end of the course, participants will gain:

🔵A clear understanding of eDNA technologies and their environmental applications
🔵Practical skills in eDNA sample collection, preservation and extraction
🔵Insights into eDNA data analysis and the use of bioinformatics tools
🔵 Knowledge on applying eDNA approaches to marine and coastal ecosystem monitoring

🌍 Open to candidates from:
Angola, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan and the United Republic of Tanzania.

🔵 Co‑organised by:
OceanTeacher Global Academy, IOCAFRICA, RTC Belgium, Pwani University, RTC Kenya (KMFRI) and RTC Ghana (University of Ghana).

🗓️ 27 July – 2 August 2026
📍 Pwani University, Kenya
🔗 Apply until 15 May 2026: https://oceanexpert.org/event/5013



📷 Ocean Image Bank - Philip Hamilton

14/04/2026

New training opportunity for the marine microbiome community!
Build skills in multi-omics, data analysis & FAIR data practices with this free, self-paced certificate program from the National Microbiome Data Collaborative, in collaboration with the American Society of Microbiology.

Learn more: https://microbiomedata.org/certificate-program/

25/02/2026

for due March 31, 2026. eDNA Collaborative Microgrant will support 10 people from historically underfunded geographies and institutions to attend the 2026 Global eDNA Conference in Seattle, WA Oct 28-30th. Covers 4 nights hotel and conference registration; does NOT cover travel and other expenses.

Thank you for your interest in the eDNA Collaborative's 2026 Global eDNA Conference Support Microgrant! This microgrant provides 1) conference registration and 2) four nights of hotel accommodation for the 2026 Global eDNA Conference in Seattle, Washington (October 28-30, 2026). Importantly, this mi...

17/02/2026

Abstract Deadline Approaching

The call for abstracts for ISME20 closes 27 February.
Join the global microbial ecology community in Auckland and showcase your research.
Submit your abstracts > https://isme-microbes.org/call-for-abstracts-isme20/

ISME welcomes microbial ecologists from around the world to submit abstracts for consideration for inclusion in the ISME20 programme. If you wish to be considered for an oral presentation, short talk, or poster, please submit your abstract by 15 February.

12/02/2026

Oil Spills and Ocean Health with Dr. Alice Ortmann

Oceanography is a podcast that provides both entry-level and nuanced coverage about the science of the sea and the systems that shape our future. The show features interviews from leading scientific institutions to explore how our oceans work, stories from action-takers around the world to remind us where collective and individual agency lives, and on-the-ground reporting from major ocean policy events to understand how crucial decisions about the ocean are made — and by whom. Link > https://marinemicrobiome.org/oil-spills-and-ocean-health-with-dr-alice-ortmann-2/

By uplifting international, interdisciplinary, and diverse voices, the podcast reflects a simple truth: we all have a stake in the ocean. And while the challenges facing our blue planet are vast, Oceanography shows that we have the power to meet them, if we just keep swimming.

11/02/2026

The is featured in the Podcast: Oil Spills and Ocean Health with Dr. Alice Ortmann! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oil-spills-and-ocean-health-with-dr-alice-ortmann/id1826543626?i=1000747818760 https://open.spotify.com/episode/7gXEouwZHQMkaTupUERDs8?si=aiQhsrldRv-KbxQZQdQ3MQ&nd=1&dlsi=8682ec391e844dca

Oceanography · Episode

04/02/2026

Catch up on the latest microbiome news at

Nominate the next Microbiome Medal Laureate Feb 2, 2026 | NewsThe One Health Microbiome Center seeks nominations for the next Microbiome Medal scholar, established in 2025 to recognize outstanding contributions to scientific discovery and service. read more Why Marine Microbiomes Belong at the Heart...