This event builds on the success of the inaugural #UnityinDiversity meeting, held online in 2020, which brought together microbial ecologists from across the globe during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2025 edition is organized by the ISME Early Career Scientist Committee (ECSC), whose mission is to promote equity, opportunity, and connection across the global microbial ecology community.
The upcoming 2-hour event will feature six invited speakers representing a diverse range of backgrounds and perspectives in microbial ecology:
- Seweryn Bialasiewicz, University of Queensland, Australia
- Grace Ho, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Germany
- Nandita Garud, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- Nahui Medina Chavez, University of Minnesota, USA
- Itumeleng Moroenyane, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
- Juan Wan, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
In addition to showcasing research, the program will foster dialogue on how diverse perspectives strengthen the microbial sciences and drive innovation.
If you are interested, make sure to register here.
The Urgency of Unity in Diversity
This year’s meeting takes place at a critical moment for the global scientific community. Political and policy changes in several countries are threatening public investment in research and weakening institutional support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Public funding for DEI programs is being scaled back or eliminated. Positions and offices dedicated to advancing equity are being closed, grant programs are dropping DEI review criteria, and institutional websites are being stripped of inclusion-related resources. Similar trends are emerging internationally, raising concerns about the long-term impact on equitable participation in science.
As microbial ecologists, we know that diversity, in both ecosystems and human communities, is fundamental to resilience, adaptability, and innovation. Limiting who can participate in science narrows our collective capacity to solve pressing global challenges, from climate change to emerging infectious diseases.
Why Unity in Diversity Matters Now
- Preserving Inclusive Science. Reduced public support for DEI risks creating research environments that are less representative, less equitable, and less innovative. The #UnityinDiversity meeting stands as a statement of ISME’s commitment to maintaining open, inclusive spaces for scientific exchange.
- Responding to Disinvestment Trends. Amid institutional rollbacks, ISME and the ECSC reaffirm that scientific advancement depends on equitable access to opportunities and the inclusion of diverse perspectives.
- Promoting Global Equity in Microbial Ecology. This meeting continues ISME’s tradition of facilitating open, collaborative knowledge exchange across borders and disciplines. Such connections are especially vital when public funding streams that enable inclusive participation are under threat.
Please mark your calendar for Tuesday, 21 October, and join us in reaffirming that science thrives when it is inclusive, collaborative, and globally connected.
Event: #UnityinDiversity Online Meeting
Date: Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Duration: 2-hour event, namely 90 min for talks and 30 min general discussion on DEIA.
Time: 8:00 AM PST / 5:00 PM CET / 11:00 PM Beijing Time
Location: Online
Register here