by Bill Snyder
Curious children of all ages are invited to explore the world of microbes — microscopic bugs — during a free hands-on event 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Martin Professional Development Center next to Nashville’s Eakin Elementary School at 2400 Fairfax Ave.
Hosted by the Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation (VI4), the second annual “MEGAMicrobe” event is open to teachers, parents and children under age 15.
While conducting experiments, doing crafts and playing games at booths staffed by Vanderbilt scientists, participants will learn about diseases caused by microbes including bacteria, viruses and other germs.
Children are encouraged to come dressed for Halloween and will have a chance to win one of several prizes. MEGAMicrobe’s goal is to make an important subject — science and science education — fun and accessible, too.
VI4 was established in 2017 to coordinate initiatives among the rapidly evolving disciplines of infection biology, immunology and inflammatory diseases. For more information, go to https://www.vumc.org/viiii/outreach or e-mail Megan Schladt at megan.schladt@vumc.org.
