Wow, it’s been one year since I started the Joyful Microbe blog. I’m amazed! And you know what? This has been one of my favorite projects I have ever worked on. Seriously.
So, to celebrate the one year anniversary of the Joyful Microbe blog, I’m going to share some things I’ve learned along the way, let you know what your favorite blog posts were, and then I want to hear from you. Yes, you! Alright, let’s get started.
What I Learned During The First Year Of The Joyful Microbe
During this past year, I’ve learned about microbes, science communication, and careers in general. So, I thought I would share a few of my favorite lessons from the first year of the Joyful Microbe.
Lesson one: Microbes are actually the coolest
As a microbiologist, I’ve known that microbes are incredible for a long time. But I’ve gained an even better appreciation of them as I’ve blogged about them over this past year. So, in case you needed a reminder, microbes are amazing. They affect nearly all aspects of our lives. It’s insane. They make smells, both good and bad, live on insects and make antimicrobials, are involved in making some of our most delicious and interesting foods, can save lives through fecal transplants, produce astounding colors, are official state symbols, live in Antarctica, can make something useful from waste, and so much more.
Lesson two: You can enjoy microbes even when you do not work in a lab
Look around! Hunt for lichens and slime molds. Look for signs of bacteria growing in your house and outside. You can actually buy a field guide to bacteria to help you on this journey. Follow researchers on social media. They get super excited and post the most amazing stuff about their research. My favorite posts are the photos showing what goes on in the lab. Start making fermented foods at home. I’ve made kombucha and sauerkraut, and that has been some of the most fun and definitely delicious time I’ve ever had with microbes. And lastly, go see microbial science tourism sites around the world. Microbes put on quite a show out there.
Lesson three: Don’t get too frustrated if you haven’t chosen your career yet
It’s fine. It took me until my postdoc to know for sure what career I wanted to pursue. So, don’t worry. You will figure it out. Just start exploring options.
What triggered my decision to be a science communicator was my need for a location-independent career. I have always enjoyed the communications aspects of scientific research, so science writing was a logical fit because you can do this job online from anywhere. After I came to this realization, I did my research on how to start my own science communication business. And I love it.
So, you know what? You are allowed to pivot too. Here’s your permission slip. If you are interested in trying something different, explore it. Research it. Try it out. Can you do a trial or experiment (like me with my blog) to see if it’s something you actually enjoy? Go for it.
Lesson four: If you want to be a science communicator, there is no gatekeeper
Just start. You are a science communicator if you share science with others. Formalize it if you can. Choose your platform, whether it is a blog, podcast, YouTube channel, or your favorite social media channel (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook). It takes a lot of work and tons of practice, but that’s why you have to start.
Lesson five: Get your own website
This lesson is especially pertinent for budding science communicators and researchers. Do not rely entirely on a social media platform to post all of your content. That platform may go away one day. Your website is yours. I recommend that you post your best content on a blog. That way, your work will never go away even if that social media company does. And people can find you through a Google Search more easily if you have a website. If you have a podcast or a YouTube Channel, I also recommend posting about that content to a blog. Your website provides a home for all of your content and a place where your audience can go and get to know you better.
Lesson six: Scientists are endlessly excited to discuss their work
I feel like I knew this one already because I did research for over 6 years, but I hadn’t seen it from the side of the science communicator. You can contact a researcher, and for the most part, they are thrilled to take a little bit of time to talk about their work. And it’s a ton of fun talking to them! One of my favorite parts of having this blog is that it has given me many opportunities to meet wonderful scientists from all over the world.
Your Favorite Joyful Microbe Blog Posts
Here are the blog posts that were viewed the most during this first year of the Joyful Microbe.
This post about microbial science tourism was by far the most popular post on the Joyful Microbe this year. And it was one of the most fun to create, especially since I collaborated with Scott Chimileski—he contributed all of the awesome photos in that post. If you love to travel and love microbes, this is the information you need to plan your next trip.
22 Online Shops with Microbial Gifts
Microbe enthusiasts love to give and receive gifts related to the microbial world. And can you believe that there are 22 (and there are actually more that I have discovered throughout this year) shops that sell microbe-related things? Amazing. Most of these shops are owned by extremely talented microbial science artists. Treat yourself and go support them!
5 Gifts For Microbe Enthusiasts
This post was another one about gifts, but I featured some of my favorite gifts that I received this year. I shared a couple of great books, a portable microscope, a microbiologist pin, and a Petri dish keychain. Go buy one for yourself!
The best way, in my opinion, to consume books is through audio. I’ve found some fantastic books about microbes on Audible, so go check these out.
Fermented foods are an incredible way to enjoy the microbes in our lives. After interviewing 7 different fermented foods experts and enthusiasts, I learned a ton! This series went from being just 1 blog post to 5 after talking to these folks. So, go dig into that series if you want to discover the joys, risks, health benefits, and unique purposes of fermented foods.
Who are you?
Lastly, I want to know a little something about you so I can better serve you. Some of you read my blog when you come across it on Twitter, maybe you even follow me on there and see my posts, or you’ve signed up for my email list. But I’d love to actually know who you are. So, please introduce yourself. You can either comment below or send me an email.
Tell me a few things:
1) Who are you?
2) What is your science background (if any)?
3) Is there anything I could cover in the future that would be helpful to you?
If you made it this far into this post, you are amazing.
Thank you, thank you, thank you so very much for reading my blog about microbes.
<3
Resources On How To Improve Your Science Communication Skills
Hi Sherrie! Thanks so much for checking out my blog! I’m glad you enjoyed it! It’s been so much fun following you with your amazing mushroom posts on IG!