Moving Public Perception from Abiotic to Probiotic

The two greatest scientific breakthroughs of twentieth century, if we measure by increased life expectancy, were improvements in our ability to kill microorganisms (drinking water disinfection and the invention of antibiotics). Perhaps as a remnant of these advances, it seems to me that the average citizen has a largely abiotic mindset, seeing microorganisms as agents …

Call for Abstracts – Indoor Air 2014, Hong Kong

Abstracts are sought to address building science issues in the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s program, Microbiology of the Built Environment. The Sloan Foundation is sponsoring a symposium as an important part of the conference. The emphasis of the Sloan Symposium will be on the building science aspects of studies of the indoor microbiome — in …

Microbial VOCs and Health – report from Basel conference Indoor Microbiome Symposium

Many indoor environmental investigators have attempted to use volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by microbes as an indicator of the presence or potential health relevance of the indoor microbiome. These compounds emitted by microbes are generally referred to as MVOCs. The airborne concentrations of MVOCs is usually too low for characterization by the usual indoor …

Building science measurements in the Hospital Microbiome Project: Part 1

First of all, Happy Halloween everyone. I think my costume this year will be a blogger! For those that don’t know me, I’m Brent Stephens, an assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL. I call my research team the Built Environment Research Group …

Postdoc opportunity at NC State University: Insect-Microbe interactions in homes

Just got an e-mail about a new postdoc opportunity at NC State – contact details are listed below for anyone interested in applying: DATE: Position available immediately (November, 2013). SALARY: Commensurate with training and experience. APPOINTMENT: 100% research RESPONSIBILITIES: To conduct research on the relationships between cockroach and bed bug infestations and the microbial communities in infested homes. This …

Architecture that senses – managing the indoor microbiome for health?

Italian architect Carlo Ratti, Director of the MIT SENSEable Cities Lab, presents an entertaining Ted Talk “Architecture that senses and responds” on the use of sensors in buildings to monitor occupant behavior and environmental conditions for input to the management of the buildings and other human-made systems. Once we know the critical environmental variables that …

EPA funding opportunity: Indoor Air and Climate Change

Indoor Air and Climate Change URL: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2014/2014_star_indoor_air.html Open Date: 10/23/2013 – Close Date: 01/23/2014 Here are some of the important details: Summary: EPA announces an extramural funding competition designed to support research that improves understanding of how climate change affects human health through indoor air quality as adapted by building designs and uses. Proposals should …