Café Scientifique (in French) — Alliance Française

I had the pleasure of delivering a Café Scientifique in French at the Alliance Française: « Écologie microbienne et pollutions : des solutions naturelles pour la planète ». Over coffee and croissants, and open to all, we explored microbial diversity and its crucial role for human and environmental health; how ocean pollution — oil spills, plastics, and personal-care products such as sunscreens — affects marine ecosystems; and how microorganisms can help remediate these pollutants. We also connected the discussion to recent Nobel Prize work in chemistry relevant to understanding plastic degradation.