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 microbiologist, Jo Handelsman, an expert on soil microbiology.
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 which analyzes antibiotic production to send to market.
Antibiotic Structures
Identifying antibiotic compounds to combat the resistance crisis.
Coming Soon:
Novel Antibiotic Structures
Tiny Earth News
Tiny Earth 2021 Year in Review
Tiny Earth would like to take a moment to reflect on the trials of 2021 and highlight the great accomplishments achieved within our network.
Introducing the New TEPI Website
Your new one-stop shop for instructor information!
Tiny Earth Chemistry Hub (TECH) Update
February update from the Tiny Earth Chemistry Hub (TECH)
Featured Video
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.
Publications
Tiny Earth: A research guide to studentsourcing antibiotic discovery
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:
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, hosting student research symposia, and ensuring all our resources and experiences are inclusive.
Interested in sponsoring Tiny Earth? You can submit gifts 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! 2021-2022 Partners
Sustaining Corporate Sponsors
Funding Agencies and Institutional Support
Tiny Earth is supported by the National Institutes of Health Common Fund and Office of Scientific Workforce Diversity under award U54 GM119023 (NRMN), administered by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Tiny Earth previously received support from award UL1 TR002373 administered by the National Institutes of Health, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.