This page is archived

Links to external sources may no longer work as intended. The content may not represent the latest thinking in this area or the Society’s current position on the topic.

Let me take a (bio)selfie

07 July 2019 09:00 - 17:00

This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2019.

Create your own unique and colourful self-portrait using the bacteria swabbed from your cheek with Dr Chloe James and her team from the University of Salford.

Your swab will be used like a brush with paint to lay the foundations of your unique microbiome artwork on an agar plate. This invisible design will then be grown in a lab with the end result being your vibrant and multi-coloured bioselfie that will be photographed and sent to you.

As you produce your work of art, you will discover how the reactions of different bacteria produce different colours when grown, and how this helps scientists to identify bacteria in the lab. You will also have a chance to prepare microscope slide stains and look at the bacterial cells that are living in your own mouth.

Drop-in activity – these activities run continuously and you can drop in at any time. Please note if the venue is at capacity you may have to wait.

Attending the event

  • Free to attend
  • No registration required
  • Suitable for ages 7+
  • Travel and accessibility information - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements
  • Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café

For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org.