Microbial Life - Educational Resources



Teaching and learning about the diversity, ecology and evolution of the microbial world; discover the connections between microbial life, the history of the earth and our dependence on micro-organisms.

Sunset Lake in Yellowstone National Park
The expansive Sunset Lake of the Black Sand Basin is one of the largest thermal bodies of water in Yellowstone National Park. Details

This site contains a variety of educational and supporting materials for students and teachers of microbiology. You will find information about microorganisms, extremophiles and extreme habitats, as well as links to online provides information about the ecology, diversity and evolution of micro-organisms for students, K-12 teachers, university faculty, and the general public.


Microbial Life in Extreme Environments:

Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park.
Mammoth Terraces, Yellowstone National Park. Details


Microbial Life in Marine Environments:



Microbial Observatories:

Marinescape from the Marine Sponge Microbial Observatory
  • Explore profiles of several microbial observatories, NSF-funded projects dedicated to the discovery and characterization of novel microorganisms and microbial communities of diverse environments.
  • Learn about how research techniques, and data sets are being used in cutting edge ecologic/microbial studies.
  • Ponder the significance of this research, and results of individual studies in diverse environments.


Research Methods:

Learn about commonly used techniques in geomicrobiology and biogeochemistry with these research method technique sheets:


Online Resources for Teachers and Students:

Image of Euastrum agalma by Ernst Haeckel


Topics of Interest:

The sulfur bacterium Thiospirillum.
The sulfur bacterium Thiospirillum. Details


Resources for Teachers and Students:

Massisteria, a cercomonad flagellate.
Massisteria, a cercomonad flagellate. Details
Browse the resources for K-12 teachers and students and undergraduate students and faculty, including online WebQuest activities for students and helpful resources for educators from the Science Education Resource Center.


Integrating Research and Education:

Zeiss microscope
See how the MLER project is making available exciting new research results for use by educators and students, and helping researchers to effectively contribute to education and outreach programs.