Meadow to discuss the built environment microbiome April 10 at Western

James Meadow will discuss architectural design and indoor microbiology as part of the Huxley College of the Environment Speaker Series at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, in Environmental Studies 100 on the Western Washington University campus.

The presentation is free and open to the public.

Humans spend more than 90 percent of our lives indoors, where we are constantly interacting with the built environment microbiome. Until very recently we knew almost nothing about the microbes in our buildings, except for a few troublemakers. In fact, we’re surrounded indoors by bacteria found in soils, on plants, and in humans and pets, the vast majority of which pose little or no risk to our health. In his talk titled “Can We Design Buildings toward a Healthier Indoor Microbiome?” Meadow will discuss the human microbial cloud, a few recent revelations from indoor microbiology, and some ways that architectural design can influence the microbes in our homes and offices.

James Meadow received a Ph.D. in ecology and environmental sciences from Montana State University in 2012, and is currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Biology and the Built Environment (BioBE) Center at the University of Oregon (http://biobe.uoregon.edu/). His primary academic interests are microbial ecology, data visualization, R statistical programming, and reproducibility in science.

The presentation will include a question-and-answer period. Anyone interested in the topic is encouraged to attend and participate. The Speaker Series, sponsored by Western’s Huxley College of the Environment, is intended to bring together environmentally-minded members of the WWU and Bellingham communities. Speakers address topics of contemporary environmental concern in the region and the world.

WWU’s Huxley College of the Environment is one of the oldest environmental colleges in the nation and a recognized leader in producing the next generation of environmental professionals and stewards. Huxley’s distinctive, interdisciplinary curriculum reflects a broad view of the physical, biological, social, and cultural world, and has earned international recognition for quality.

For more information, please contact Jen VanderWeyden at WWU’s Huxley College of the Environment at 360-650-2554.