Environmental impacts: unveiling the power of biofilms

Professor Cait MacPhee advocates for biofilms innovation with policy makers.

The impact of biofilms on our environment

Did you know biofilms can both protect our planet and pose significant challenges? Professor Cait MacPhee dived into the dual nature of biofilms and their impact on our environment, as she shared insights with policymakers at the House of Commons.

This was part of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee’s ‘Under the Microscope’ inquiry, which received over 300 submissions.

Cait MacPhee, a Professor of Biological Physics and the Edinburgh Co-Director of the National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC), outlined the significant positive and negative impact that biofilms have on our environment. She was one of six experts selected to give oral evidence to the committee.

During her presentation she advocated for the government to review the national infrastructure which could facilitate innovation and its exploitation to manage and engineer these biofilms. A significant proposal was the establishment of a biobank containing realistic biofilms for validation and standardised testing and regulation of biofilm technologies.

Waste recovery from historic landfills

Professor MacPhee’s work with policy makers does not stop at Westminster; she has been awarded the Science, Evidence and Policy Active Learning (SEPAL) Fellowship as a secondee to advise the Scottish Government.

This fellowship focuses on recovering critical raw materials from waste, exploring leading-edge technologies, and maximising resource recovery, particularly targeting historic landfill sites.

By improving communication between researchers and policymakers, scientific findings could be effectively translated into practical policies, with a goal of mitigating the impact of biofilms to promote a healthier, more sustainable environment.