We Bring Your Microbiome Back (2023-ongoing)

“We Bring Your Microbiome Back” (2022–2023) is a pole-poster intervention installed on trees, inviting passersby to delve into the complexity of environmental microbiology through cross-scale exploration. Visitors could detach fragments of pole posters attached to trees at the University of Fortaleza campus in Brazil, an area granted as a concession by IBAMA to the educational institution. The posters featured QR codes leading to an online database with information about microbiome restoration and photographic documentation of native microbial populations cultivated from tree bark samples in Petri dishes. The project also utilized Instagram (hashtag #webringyourmicrobiomeback) to share visual content, allowing viewers to access data on trees and their bark microbial colonies. The images showcased bacterial and fungal growth observed after 48 hours of incubation, offering a window into the unseen microbial ecosystems thriving on tree bark. Featured species and their microbial documentation on January 31, 2023, included: Terminalia catappa Linn (Indian Almond, Hindi: जंगली बादाम), Adansonia digitata (African Baobab), Mangifera indica (Mango, believed to have originated between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India), Delonix regia (Flamboyant, native to Madagascar), Couroupita guianensis (Cannonball Tree, native to the tropical forests of Central and South America). This intervention bridges scientific exploration and public engagement, fostering awareness of the intricate relationships between trees, their microbial inhabitants, and environmental health. It underscores the potential for microbiome restoration to contribute to broader ecological sustainability. The reach of “We Bring Your Microbiome Back” was expanded through subsequent interventions at key global locations. During FeMeeting 2023 in Taos, New Mexico, samples were collected in Santa Fe. Similar actions followed in Brooklyn, NYC, and at the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts (SIVA) Technoetic Arts Campus in the Songjiang district of Shanghai, engaging participants in microbiological exploration and sparking a cross-cultural dialogue on ecological restoration. 

These interventions furthered the project’s mission of integrating art, science, and public participation. Tailoring the initiative to various environmental and cultural contexts deepened the discussion on microbiome restoration while highlighting the interconnectedness of ecosystems worldwide. Each location contributed distinct perspectives, enhancing the narrative and the project's impact.