CoE Outreach Activities

Welcome to the CoE Microplanet Outreach Activities page!

Microbiomes play a major role in human health and the environment. Our research explores these invisible worlds that shape our planet.
We believe that scientific insights and progress belong to everybody; thus, we created this website as a shared platform, spanning a broad range of topics – from environmental to medical microbiome research – and a broad range of formats – from podcasts and press articles to videos.

Microbiome research offers real-world solutions to some of today’s most pressing issues. We help build scientific literacy and empower you to navigate complex health and environmental topics with confidence. We foster trust in science through open debate and shared learning among researchers, media, policymakers, and the public. Finally, we invite you to actively participate in the research process through citizen science and collaborative projects.

If you have questions about the content or would like to contact one of our Key Researchers, please use the contact form at the bottom of this page.

Coe podcast and other podcast appearances

Podcasts provide barrier-free access to news from all sectors of society. Our own podcast, “The World of Microbes”, supported by astronomer and serial podcaster Florian Freistetter, will introduce listeners to CoE Key Researchers and the fascinating research topics in the CoE Microplanet. CoE members’ appearances on other national and international podcasts will help build international awareness of Austrian microbiome research.

CoE Director of Research Michael Wagner was a guest on the DerStandard podcast! He talked about microorganisms and their fundamental importance for life on Earth.

CoE Deputy Director of Research Christine Moissl-Eichinger spoke on Hörgang about archaea not only in hot springs and salt lakes, but on our skin and in our gut.

CoE Key Researcher Alex Loy was a guest on the IQ podcast of the German broadcasting BR. He talked about the discovery of an entirely new metabolic pathway in microbes.

CoE Key Researcher Martin Polz was featured in Uni Vienna’s podcast ‘An der Quelle’. He talked about how gut microbes adapt to different conditions, thereby forming distinct groups.

coe microplanet in the press

The CoE Microplanet was featured in Chemiereport alongside the ‘Circular Bioengineering’ Cluster.

Michael Wagner, Christine Moissl-Eichinger and Dagmar Woebken in DERSTANDARD.

Research by Dagmar Woebken and her team on biocrusts featured in Heute.

CoE Deputy Director of Research Christine Moissl-Eichinger interviewed by SN.

CoE Key Researcher Michael Zumstein leads a new Christian Doppler Lab on water-soluble polymers.

CoE Director of Research Michael Wagner on the influence of sport on the human microbiome.

A study by CoE Key Researcher Isabella Anderson–Wagner featured in National Geographic.

CoE Key Researcher David Berry on the hype around the gut microbiome and its potential for personalized medicine.

coe microplanet in videos and animations

Die Macht der Mikroben
French filmmaker Marie Monique Robin and her team produced an informative documentary on the importance of microbes, including a feature on our CoE Microplanet. The film addresses the loss of microbiome biodiversity that can have far-reaching consequences for human health.

How scientists at the University of Vienna reveal the power of desert soil microbes

CoE Key Researcher Dagmar Woebken and her team explore how desert microorganisms survive extended droughts and the importance of different water sources for microbial activities and the preservation of microbial diversity.

collaboration with Kinder- und jugendbüro of the university of vienna

Since 2026, CoE Microplanet collaborates with the Kinder- und Jugendbüro of the University of Vienna. This collaboration focuses on children between the age of 7 and 12, and is embedded in various other science communication efforts in the areas of education, content creation and training.

This collaboration aims to raise awareness of Austrian microbiome research as a leading field of research with broad societal impact and to promote high-quality dialogue between the scientific community and society. One of the outcomes of this collaboration is two videos:

12 school kids from the Aron Menczer Educational Campus have been researching the microbiome in the environment and the human body.
In this video, they share what they’ve learned and tell you about their very special “aha!” moments!

A Journey into the Micro-Universe
In this entertaining animated video, you can discover a lot about the microbiome. Find out why a world without these tiny superheroes simply wouldn’t be possible!

collaboration with annelieke overbeeke (darmkram)

CoE Microplanet teamed up with Annelieke Overbeeke, a microbiologist and nutritionist with a PhD and founder of “Darm Kram”. She aims to inspire people to change how we approach nutrition through interactive lectures and workshops. The goal is to give both our gut and our health exactly what we need. And the short answer is: Eat more fiber.

This video ‘Ballaststoffen auf der Spur‘ was produced in collaboration with the Kinder- und Jugendbüro of the University of Vienna.
In the video, Annelieke explains what our gut needs to function properly and what “food” our microbiome loves most to stay healthy. For gut microbiome-friendly recipes, see the section ‘My microbiome” below.

My microbiome

In this section, we share recipes for microbiome-friendly foods developed by Annelieke Overbeeke. Please check out her website for more recipes: www.darmkram.at