International Microorganism Day – 17 September – was marked in the conference hall of the “Stephan Angeloff” Institute of Microbiology (IMicB) at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS). This year’s event took place as part of a formal session of the National Seminar on General Virology, Infections and Antimicrobials at the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria and the Seminar of national importance on Infectious Microbiology at IMicB– BAS.
The celebration of this day began in 2017 at the suggestion of the Portuguese Society of Microbiology with the support of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS). The aim of the initiative is to promote the history and contribution of microbiology to modern medicine, biotechnology and environmental protection as well as to inspire young people to pursue a career in science.
Academician Hristo Najdenski delivered a lecture entitled “Antonie van Leeuwenhoek – discoverer of a new world of microscopic life and founder of modern microbiology” in which he traced his journey to the discovery that led to the choice of 17 September as International Microorganism Day. On that date in 1683, the Dutchman sent a letter to the Royal Society in London in which he described in detail his observations of single-celled organisms – living bacteria discovered in dental plaque.
Also present at the event were Academician Angel Galabov, President of the Bulgarian Society for Microbiology; Acad. Hristo Najdenski, Vice-President of the BSM; Corresponding Member Albert Krastanov; Prof. Dr. Galina Satchanska, Bulgaria’s representative to the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) as well as established scientists and young researchers.
