About the Conference

Microbial Interactions in Biofilms and Microbiomes: From Natural to Industrial Settings is a one-day international conference bringing together leading scientists and early-career researchers working at the forefront of microbial ecology, biofilm research, microbiomes, evolution, and biotechnology.

Microorganisms rarely exist in isolation. Instead, they form complex, dynamic communities in which interspecies interactions – ranging from cooperation and competition to communication and metabolic exchange – shape community structure, function, and resilience. These interactions underpin processes central to human health, environmental sustainability, and industrial biotechnology, including antimicrobial tolerance, biofilm persistence, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem stability.

This meeting will explore microbial interactions across a broad spectrum of systems, spanning environmental, industrial, and clinical biofilms and microbiomes. Through a series of invited plenary lectures, research talks, early-career researcher presentations, and poster sessions, the conference will examine how microbial communities organise, adapt, and respond to ecological pressures across diverse contexts.

A central aim of the conference is to foster cross-disciplinary dialogue, linking fundamental mechanisms of microbial interaction – such as metabolic cross-feeding, signalling cascades, and competitive strategies – with applied challengesin healthcare, food systems, biotechnology, and environmental management. By bringing together researchers from different fields, the meeting seeks to promote a unified understanding of microbial interactions from molecular and cellular processes to community-level behaviour and real-world applications.

The conference also places strong emphasis on early-career researcher engagement, providing opportunities for emerging scientists to present their work, interact with international leaders in the field, and build new collaborations. Dedicated poster sessions, flash presentations, and awards supported by Applied Microbiology International (AMI) will recognise outstanding scientific contributions and support professional development.

This event is funded by the Wellcome Trust as part of a Wellcome Accelerator Award, with additional support from Applied Microbiology International (AMI) and the National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC). We gratefully acknowledge their support in enabling this international forum for advancing understanding of microbial interactions in biofilms and microbiomes.