Marvellous Microbes Trail

The Marvellous Microbes trail was created by Raphael Hans Lwesya as part of his PIPS internship with the Centre for Microbial Interactions. The posters for the trail were displayed around Norwich city centre during Norwich Science Festival 2025 (1-22 February).

This is one of the Centre’s many outreach projects designed to bring microbiology out of the lab and into the community. By offering fun and accessible learning experiences, we aimed to inspire curiosity and understanding about the invisible but incredible world of microbes.

We are really grateful to the Quadram Institute for their funding support to develop the Marvellous Microbes trail. We also want to thank The Forum Trust for helping us plan and deliver the trail, DesignPod for the excellent design work, and all the businesses and venues for hosting posters as part of the trail.

The text below is from the trail’s original advert during Norwich Science Festival 2025. Please note that the trail activities and prize draw have now ended. Get in touch with Sam Rowe (Project Manager, Centre for Microbial Interactions) at sam.rowe@quadram.ac.uk if you would like to find out more about this project.

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Get ready for a unique adventure exploring the microscopic wonders all around us! The Marvellous Microbes Trail is at Norwich Science Festival 2025, offering an exciting, educational experience for all ages. From 1-22 February 2025, this self-guided trail will lead you to nine venues around Norwich city centre, each hosting posters that show some of the tiniest superheroes on Earth – microorganisms and their unique “superpowers”!

What to Expect: Collect a trail map from The Forum Atrium that will guide you to each of the nine locations with our specially designed posters. Each poster will highlight a different microorganism, showing fascinating details about how they shape our world – from breaking down waste and enhancing soil fertility to playing crucial roles in human health and the environment.

Win Amazing Prizes! On each poster you will find a hidden letter that will contribute to forming a microbiology word. Complete the trail, find the mystery word, and enter the prize draw for a chance to win microbiology-themed prizes worth £50 for the winner and £25 each for the two runners-up!

Once you’ve finished the trail, you can access the prize submission form by clicking here. You can also download the trail map at the bottom of this page.

Join the Fun! Use and follow the hashtag #MarvellousMicrobes on social media for updates, sneak peeks, and stories from other explorers! The Marvellous Microbes Trail offers an adventure that’s both enlightening and entertaining – perfect for families, friends, and solo explorers alike. Mark your calendar and prepare to explore the microscopic marvels hiding in plain sight throughout Norwich.

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