Kohima: Nagaland University’s Kohima Campus observed International Microorganism Day 2026 on September 17 with a series of academic and creative activities aimed at highlighting the role of microorganisms in health, agriculture, biotechnology and environmental sustainability.
The programme was organised by the Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology (SET), in collaboration with the Microbiologists Society, India, Nagaland Chapter. It was held under the theme “Tiny Organisms, Big Impact: Microbes for a Sustainable Future.”
Prof Sujata Dash, Dean, SET, Nagaland University, attended the inaugural programme as chief guest, while Dr Rajkrishna Mondal chaired the event.
Prof Pranav Kumar Prabhakar, Professor and Head of the Department of Biotechnology and State President of the Microbiologists Society, India, Nagaland Chapter, served as the convener.
Prabhakar highlighted the role of microorganisms in human health, food production, agriculture, nutrient cycling, biotechnology and environmental sustainability. He said the celebration was intended not only to raise awareness about microbes but also to encourage students to explore microbiology beyond conventional classroom learning.
“The microbial world may be invisible, but its impact is everywhere,” Prabhakar said, encouraging students to remain curious and explore the potential of microorganisms in addressing social and environmental challenges.
Dash appreciated the initiative and stressed the importance of creating academic platforms that allow students to move beyond textbooks and develop their abilities to observe, think, innovate and communicate scientific ideas.
The programme saw participation from 12 institutions from India and abroad. Ten participating institutions were from India, including those from Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Nagaland, while two international institutions also took part.
Six competitions and activities were organised as part of the celebration: quiz, poster making, rangoli, model making, reel making and microbial art.
The quiz recorded 28 participants, followed by poster making with 22, reel making with 17, microbial art with 16, rangoli with 14 and model making with nine participants. A total of 33 entries were from Nagaland University. Organisers said the activity-wise figures included participants who took part in more than one event.
The activities were designed to combine scientific learning with creative communication. While the quiz focused on microbiological knowledge, poster and model-making encouraged scientific visualisation and presentation. Rangoli and microbial art introduced creative approaches to microbiology, while reel making encouraged participants to communicate scientific concepts through digital media.
Dr Hanumant Singh Rathore presented the event report, outlining the participation and activities conducted during the celebration.
The programme concluded with appreciation for participating institutions, students, faculty members, research scholars, organisers and student volunteers.
The organisers said the celebration sought to demonstrate the importance of microorganisms beyond their microscopic scale and their contribution to human well-being, biotechnology and environmental sustainability.
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