WPR: Prof. Merkel and others look to cultivate new scientists and antibiotics

“Wisconsin researchers are joining a worldwide effort to preserve cures for common infections by using crowdsourcing to discover new antibiotics,” reports Wisconsin Public Radio. The story features UW-Green Bay Associate Prof. Brian Merkel (Human Biology). “The educators came to UW-Madison in early January to take a week-long crash course as part of what’s called the Small World Initiative, a program Handelsman started in 2012 to discover new antibiotics and keep students interested in science. Instructors learn how to teach their students how to look for new antibiotics to replace those that no longer work. ‘Once I heard about it, I just couldn’t believe something like this existed,’ said Brian Merkel.”So for me personally, professionally I’m going to learn some new things which I’m very excited about, very passionate about, but I think what it can do for our students and how it can address this problem — do all at the same time — it’s an incredible opportunity.'” See the story. UW-Green Bay’s College of Science and Technology is a partner in the effort. The show aired a number of times the past two weeks on WPR.

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