Most people think of microorganisms or microbes as harmful, causing disease or just stinking up the refrigerator.  However, the reality is that the vast majority of microbes keep humans alive and healthy on Earth.  Microbes are responsible directly or indirectly for producing the air we breathe, the food we eat, clean water that we drink, and diseases that make us sick.  In other words, microbes provide many services to humans in Earth’s ecosystems and enable the sustainable production of food and energy as well as the recycling of wastes.  However, most of the microbial world remains to be discovered and explored. The intent of the course is to introduce students to the many facets of microbial life on this planet and to show you that Earth’s ecosystems and microbes are closely intertwined.  Most people think of microorganisms or microbes as harmful, causing disease or just stinking up the refrigerator.  However, the reality is that the vast majority of microbes keep humans alive and healthy on Earth.  Microbes are responsible directly or indirectly for producing the air we breathe, the food we eat, clean water that we drink, and diseases that make us sick.  In other words, microbes provide many services to humans in Earth’s ecosystems and enable the sustainable production of food and energy as well as the recycling of wastes.  However, most of the microbial world remains to be discovered and explored. The intent of the course is to introduce students to the many facets of microbial life on this planet and to show you that Earth’s ecosystems and microbes are closely intertwined.