Category: <span>Don’t Miss</span>

Biofilm Microenvironments: EBNet workshop report out now

Microenvironments can be defined as localised zones with chemical, biological or physical characteristics that differ significantly from those of the larger-scale surrounding environment. Because microbes respond primarily to these immediate conditions, microenvironments strongly influence the performance of microbially-based systems. Understanding and controlling these influences is essential for engineering improved systems. …

EBNet’s UKRI report available now

A report covering EBNet’s main activities and outputs during our UKRI funding period is now up on the Resources page, under More EBNet reports.  A bit later than originally planned, but brimming with information on our working groups, events and publications. The report is available in two formats, with a …

Bioefficiency webinar available – and a PhycoClub crowdfunding campaign

If you missed the joint PhycoClub / EBNet webinar on 26 June 2026, or want to hear it again, a recorded version is now available HERE. Dr Marin Sawa’s talk on Bioefficiency led to many questions and further discussion continuing well after the session ended. The concept can readily be …

ISM2S Conference postponed – and a new paper on sensors

The organisers of the 3rd International Symposium on Microfluidics for Sensing and Sequencing (ISM2S) have reluctantly decided to postpone this year’s conference. Prof Zhugen Yang, who leads EBNet’s ESWS WG and is on the Conference organising committee, said: “Due to the merger between Cranfield and King’s College London and the …

Cryptosporidial oocysts and a persistent coliform – two new water treatment papers

A warm welcome for two new papers related to the work of EBNet’s Water Biofilms WG and to wider aspects of Theme 2. The first is a review of factors affecting removal of Cryptosporidium and other protozoal oocysts in slow sand filtration (SSF). Removal rates vary widely, and the review …

Coccus Pocus 2026 – scary story competition now open (and sponsored by EBNet)

The 2026 Coccus Pocus story competition is now open for entries. This year’s theme is microbial therapeutics against pathogens and AMR microbes and their biofilms, so plenty to interest EBNet members. Participants must submit a short story of 500 to 2000 words. The deadline is 31 October 2026 (Halloween), and …

Joint PhycoClub / EBNet talk – don’t miss this!

Date: 26 June 2026 10:30 UK, online Don’t miss this month’s PhycoFriday talk, jointly hosted by PhycoClub and EBNet’s BES WG.  Dr Marin Sawa will give a presentation on Bioefficiency, in the context of her work on algal biotechnology: for more details of speaker and topic, see below. Marin’s talk …

3rd Microfluidics Symposium – call for abstracts

Abstracts deadline: 20 July 2026 Date and location: 25-26 August 2026, Cambridge The 3rd International Symposium on Microfluidics for Sensing and Sequencing: Frontier Technology for Sustainability and Planetary Health (ISM2S 2026) is inviting abstract submissions. Following previous ISM2S in Cranfield 2024 and Oxford 2025, this two-day event covers the topic …

AMR, Biochar, H2 production and microalgae videos now available

In the ongoing clean-up of the EBNet website, new presentations have been added to Travel bursary and Placement sections, which are now on the Outcomes page. For some examples from international conferences, see: Kathleen Dunbar, University of Surrey – ISME 19, 18-23 August 2024 Cape Town, South Africa. Increased hydrogen production from …

AD optimisation and decision-making – an industry/academic perspective

Congratulations to our colleagues for their new paper in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews on requirements and approaches for optimising anaerobic digestion on a site-wide basis. The paper draws on work carried out for the AI for Net Zero project (EP/Y005600/1) led by Prof Michael Short, and with the Supergen …

Fibre Highways – Microbe translocation video

A short video of microbial translocation along different fibres (fungal mycelium and synthetic fabric), produced as part of the EBNet-funded Fibre Highways Proof-of-Concept (POC) project, is now available HERE on our YouTube channel. The project also provided the wonderful Ebb & Flow prototype – see image below; with an accompanying …

A word to our funders – make sure your views are known

EBNet’s Director Prof Sonia Heaven will give a short talk on our Network to representatives of BBSRC in Southampton on 3 June 2026. This is an opportunity to share your thoughts on key issues for Environmental Biotechnology, and/or ideas for this and other UKRI-funded Networks. We plan to include preliminary …

Machine learning for modelling environmental biotechnologies – and WG report

Results from a webinar organised by EBNet’s working group on AI & ML in the Bioeconomy have formed the basis for a recent Perspectives paper in Resources, Conservation and Recycling. The paper identifies the power of biotechnologies such as fermentation, anaerobic digestion and bioelectrochemical systems  –  all topics of sister …

Food waste sorting technologies – and updated AF WG report

A new publication from IEA Bioenergy’s Task 36 Material and Energy Valorisation of Waste in a Circular Economy looks at advanced sorting technologies for food wastes. The report provides an overview of technologies currently available on the market, accompanied by a brief case study on food waste in Germany. It …