Gifts for that Special Microbiologist on your List, the 2008 Edition

~it was a typical day in the microbial laboratory, with only one major infectious outbreak resulting in the loss of one doctoral candidate and one eclair-baking postdoctoral scholar.  All-in-all, not such a bad day~

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For the past two years, I've made a list of gifts for that special microbiologist in your life - and during the month of December, you might be surprised at the number of Google searches conducted out there for microbiology gifts.  Now of course this makes perfect sense to me, but since many of you may not have a special microbiologist in your life, well then - all I can say is SHAME ON YOU!!  You should get one, and soon!

Gifts for that Special Microbiologist on your List 2006

Gifts for that Special Microbiologist on your List 2007

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So, introducing Gifts for that Special Microbiologist on your List, the 2008 Edition 

 

First up, Winogradsky Column kits.  Now who was Winogradsky you ask?  Well, Sergei W. was a russian microbiologist born in 1856.  He was a pretty interesting guy - he studied ecology, microbiology and soil science - a regular rennaissance man don't you think?  Well, one of his big contributions was that of biogeochemical cycling, the whole cycle of life thing - and he worked quite a bit with microorganisms involved in the sulfur and nitrogen cycles.  He was perhaps best known for discovering the process whereby organisms obtain energy from inorganic compounds and gets it's carbon from carbon dioxide - a process known today as chemoautotrophy. 

So you see - Serg (I'm making an assumption that he and I would have been friends) is one of the first microbiologists that studied microorganisms in a non-humancentric, non-human-health focused kind of way.  In other words, he was one of my academic fathers (more or less) - one of the first environmental microbiologists.  Yay!  

The Winogradsky Column was one way in which Serg studied the sulfur cycle.  It's a simple column containing sediment/mud with other amendments, amendments which influence the development of different microbial communities that can be visually observed.  You can learn one heck of alot about biogeochemical cycling with these simple columns.  So you have a few choices:  you can purchase Ward's Winogradsky Column Kit or the Carolina Winogradsky Column Set.  There's also the more expensive Science Kit & Boreal Laboratories Microbial Ecology in a Closed System Kit. 

But since this is a holiday season where many are concerned about the economy, the Winogradsky Column is something that one can easily make on their own - with a little assistance.  Yes, a homemade microbiology gift - the perfect gift!  There are some wonderful websites that can provide you with some assistance:  here's a site from Montana State University's BiofilmsONLINE website titled Construction of a Winogradsky Column (with easy step-by-step instructions as well as nice educational text) and then there's this nice tutorial.  For all of you windowsill-indoor gardeners, why not add a Winogradsky Column to your collection, and support the development of quite interesting, definitely important, and oh-so-lovely microbial communities?  Better yet, make one for a friend!

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Now for that molecular microbiologist on your gift list - what about a MYDNA book case from Joel Escalona Studio?  You can get this in a static or rotating version (such flexibility!) - and it just screams 'I'm into DNA'. 

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Remember that article that came out in the journal Science about how snow might be initiated by bacteria?  So, why not make your own snowflakes - yet with a slight modification:  a glittery microbe center!  You can be creative, add a rod, a cocci - think what you can do with flagella!  Think of it as an anatomically correct snowflake - aka scientifically correct.  Perhaps?  Found via Lifehacker.

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Do you have a music lovin' microbiologist on your list?  Well then, perhaps they'd like to listen to the album Microbiology?  Then there's a 'Staph Only' mug...and a swanky Discovering the World of Microorganisms Kit -- the latter of which can only be shipped to registered educational communities.  Another item that is quite nice that can only be shipped to registered facilities is the Identification of Bacteria using a Dichotomous Key Kit.  Want to surprise a friend with a MicrobeWorld screensaver?  What about getting someone to order the 1999 video 'Intimate Strangers: Unseen Life on Earth' :  then get your special microbiologist, make some popcorn, get a decent bottle of Malbec, and marvel at the microbial world!  When that video is over, go online and help solve a microbial mystery!  Better yet, play Name that Bug...because perhaps the best gift you can give your special microbiologist is the gift of your time - and time well spent!

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You can also head over to SuperBug, where you'll find a delightful collection of items for that special microbiologist in your life.  There you will find Agar Art, festive holiday cards - and friendly bacterial slogans.  There's also the Ein-O Cell & Microbiology Model of a bacterial cell.  And what about a Microbiology Study Chart?  Or a hardcover copy of the Outer Reaches of Life by John Postgate?

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There's always a microscope.  Not just any microscope - but what about a Bausch & Lomb microscope manufactured in 1902?  Or a miniature French Drum microscope, circa 1840-1850?  Or even better yet, this Simple microscope?  I don't think I know a single microbiologist who wouldn't just love receiving an antique microscope!  (Hint, Hint)

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Okay - now we're moving on to jewelry.  Jewelry you say?  Fortunately, the Mad Scientists of Etsy held a challenge - and the August 2008 Challenge had a 'Microbiology' theme. 

Now how fun is that????

First, take a look at Arctida's creations.  Just lovely, don't you think?  There's nothing quite like a little Streptococcus pneumoniae necklace for those fancy holiday gatherings. 

But what about a cyanobacterial scarf?  Perhaps a Mixed Media Reflection on Microbiology?   Maybe a collection of pinned microbes would be the perfect gift for your special microbiologist...go and take a look! 

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Well, I think it's time to bring the 2008 Edition of Gifts for that Special Microbiologist in your Life to a close.  I hope that this provided you with some ideas - and if you don't have a special microbiologist in your life, may I suggest that you get one...and soon?

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For prior and subsequent years:

The 2006 Edition.

The 2007 Edition.

The 2009 Edition.

Comments

[Arctida]

OMG! This is so cool! Hello a friendly soul *waiving* :) I looove your blog! Even though I've changed my field and now I'm more of a cell biologist or molecular biologist working with human cancer cells, in my soul and heart I will always remain a true Microbiologist! :) Thank you so much for the feature! It is always so much more fun when it comes a fellow scientist :)

xoxoxo
Alecia

[Susan Tomlinson]

Completely nerdy. :-) I love browsing the Carolina and Ward's catalogs.

[Kim]

Okay, I've managed to go through your entire list (love Arctida's stuff, btw) and somehow segued onto YouTube and started watching Les Claypool bass solos as a result of it. This... is why I love your blog, Pam. lol.

[Pam]

Alecia, I'm so glad that I found the Mad Scientists site! And I really like your work - it's gorgeous - that was a treat. My lab does mostly environmental micro - but using molecular approaches (metagenomics, etc) - I took a bacterial diversity class during grad school, and feel in love with biodiversity research. I'm glad that you stopped by.

Susan, yeah, completely nerdy. There is nothing I can say to defend myself!

Kim, it sounds like you DEFINITELY need a microbiologist in your life! I really liked Arctida's work too. And YouTube can definitely suck you in - the music is great though. And thanks...I like when a 'misguided but intensely focused' approach to life is enjoyed!