World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022

Spread the word with Tiny Earth! #TEWAAW

November 18th-24th

Apply for the takeover

Each year Tiny Earth invites the community of students and instructors to spread awareness for the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis by sparking creative and engaging discussions. This year for Antimicrobial Awareness Week we are celebrating and spreading awareness in two ways:

  • Tiny Earth Social Media Takeover: A day in the life of a Tiny Earth Researcher
    • We are inviting students, instructors, and Tiny Earth researchers to take over the Tiny Earth Instagram to showcase their day in the life of a scientist! From breakfast to class to the lab bench, we want to see how diverse roles and positions fit into the STEM education & career pathway
      • 4 people will get the chance to log onto the Tiny Earth Instagram create posts, stories, or even go on instagram live! Interact with the Tiny Earth community in real time and share your perspective on being student/instructor/researcher in STEM.

    • Apply before November 17th for the unique opportunity to control Tiny Earth’s social media during #TEWAAW for a day!

  • Share your unique and creative perspective and knowledge on social media using #TEWAAW!
    • Create and post an infographic, public service announcement, story, informative video, or artwork (psst.. have you heard of agar art?) about #AMR on Twitter, Instagram, and/or TikTok! Be sure to tag us @tinyearthnet and use the hashtag #TEWAAW.

Read more below about the importance of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week from the World Health Organization

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat. Researchers estimated that AMR in bacteria caused an estimated 1.27 million deaths in 20191.

A global action plan to tackle the growing problem of resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines was endorsed at the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly in May 2015. One of the key objectives of the plan is to improve awareness and understanding of AMR through effective communication, education and training.

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is a global campaign that is celebrated annually to improve awareness and understanding of AMR and encourage best practices among the public, One Health stakeholders and policymakers, who all play a critical role in reducing the further emergence and spread of AMR.

This year, the theme of WAAW is “Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together.” We call on all sectors to encourage the prudent use of antimicrobials and to strengthen preventive measures addressing AMR, working together collaboratively through a One Health approach. — World Health Organization