Regional Regional Program of Scientific and Technological Research

In a new session of the Science Café, students, scientists and the general public discovered the world of microorganisms, in the event organized by the Research and Development Center CIEN Austral.

“Microorganisms on earth, a world to discover”, was the topic that Dr. Bernardo Gonzalez successfully developed in the last session of the Science Café at Restaurant Pa’ Offshore Puerto Montt, which was sponsored by the company Ventisqueros.

Dr.. González, is Biochemist, Doctor in Biological Sciences, now, serves as an academic and researcher at the Faculty of Engineering and Science at the University Adolfo Ibáñez, in Santiago.

On this occasion, showed how man relates to microorganisms in everyday life, in the area of ​​health, and industrial and natural processes. Microorganisms are present everywhere and, from this premise, Dr.. Gonzalez introduced the audience to a world where it is very difficult to estimate how many organisms on the planet because of its great diversity; not only by their morphology, but by the varied habitats and functions performed.

And various necessary

With regard to the study of these tiny life forms the specialist added that “most of the studies have been devoted to other areas of the tree of life: animals, plants, mushrooms… and it seems that these include a greater number of species, but the situation is reversed: there is more diversity in the microbial world, that in the world of plants and animals… is where there is still space to study which is huge”.

In trying to show a positive outlook to microorganisms explained that “when one considers the human being as a species, the first feeling you have is that microorganisms are produciéndonos diseases, which are pathogenic, namely, they are bad and, the truth, is that it is not. The vast majority of microorganisms which are associated with us, are housed in specific parts of our body, concentrated mainly in the intestinal tract, provoking no diseases, but indispensable process involved the digestive process, making good”.

In terms of industrial processes it is sometimes observed that the presence of microorganisms desirable, for example, wastewater treatment occurs through them, “degrade eat and what we want to eliminate, being able even to make this water potable again”; also participate in the important process of extraction of copper and smart paints the striking.

Another important example is the case of oil-contaminated sites “on beaches with high levels of pollution, first reduced contamination of mechanical methods, and then you should only add nitrogen and phosphate, as a recipe, and let the microorganisms that pre-existed in the work place, these elements consume, and within a few weeks, oil disappears”.

Finally, Dr.. Bernardo Gonzalez concluded that it must be understood in the sense harmful microorganisms that surround us, but they keep studying and learning from them and the benefits they provide to humans and the environment.

Next meeting

In the next Science Café, Doctor in Geology, Academics of the University of Chile and Director of the Centre of Excellence for Geothermal Energy of the Andes, Diego Morata, present the theme: “How much energy do you think we could generate more than 3000 volcanoes in Chile?”. More information is available at http://cafe.cienaustral.cl