Our Mission
Tiny Earth inspires and retains students in the sciences while addressing one of the most pressing global health challenges of our century—the diminishing supply of effective antibiotics. Tiny Earthlings are college students who enroll in a Tiny Earth research course to discover antibiotics from soil bacteria in their own backyards.
This innovative, international network was created by Dr. Jo Handelsman, Vilas Research Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and former Associate Director for Science at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
Students have the capacity to solve the crisis by discovering many new antibiotics through their sheer numbers as well as the ingenuity that they bring to the research.
A Message from the Founder
Connect with Tiny Earth
Tiny Earth Partner Instructors (TEPIs) teach Tiny Earth students all over the globe to develop and test hypotheses, collect soil, isolate bacteria, screen for antibiotic activity, and log data in the Tiny Earth Discovery Database. Check out upcoming events where TEPIs and students gather to share experiences and resources.
What is Tiny Earth?
Video created by students Pari Patel and Nikhila K. Reddy at California Northstate University: College of Health Sciences with the guidance of TEPI Dr. Parisa Jazbi.
The Tiny Earth Antibiotic Discovery Pipeline
Instructors
Worldwide network of instructors teach evidence-based hands-on science.
Students
Students study microbes from local soils with interactive research.
Database
Pathogen-inhibiting isolates are recorded in the global Tiny Earth Database and shared.
Chemistry Hub
Students share samples with the Chemistry Hub scientists for genomic and metabolomic analysis.
Antibiotic Structures
Identifying antibiotic compounds to combat the resistance crisis.
Coming Soon:
Novel Antibiotic Structures
Tiny Earth News
Featured Publication
Tiny Earth is committed to scholarship in research, teaching, and learning. Here are a few of our publications from the leadership team to illustrate the scientific and educational expertise in Tiny Earth.
Tiny Earth: A Big Idea for STEM Education and Antibiotic Discovery
Hurley, et al. mBio (2022)
Citizen science to raise antimicrobial resistance awareness in the community: The MicroMundo Project in Spain and Portugal
Gil-Serna, et at. Microbial Biotechnology (2025)
Trusted Partners
The power of the Tiny Earth is the rich tapestry of students, instructors, and communities all working toward a common goal: antibiotic discovery. Gifts help to advance the discovery of new antibiotics and foster a talented STEM workforce of students by supporting educational programming, training new instructors, and hosting student research symposia.
Interested in sponsoring Tiny Earth?
Submit a gift to the Tiny Earth Community Fund.
For more information, check out our partnership page or email tinyearth@wid.wisc.edu.
Thank you for your support!
Corporate Sponsors, Funding Agencies, and Institutional Support
Tiny Earth Merchandise
Represent Tiny Earth in and out of the classroom! Showcase your love for Tiny Earth with premium short- and long-sleeve tees in your favorite color or a two-toned mug for your morning brew.
Purchases from the Tiny Earth merchandise store directly support Tiny Earth programming such as student research symposia and instructor training, keeping costs low for participants. Help us advance the discovery of new antibiotics and support STEM research and education by snagging Tiny Earth merchandise!
