IMiLI/IMiLI–South Asian Centre (IMiLI-SAC)

Housed at PhiXgen Pvt Ltd.

The International Microbial Literacy Initiative (IMiLI) is a global effort dedicated to
promoting microbial literacy and enhancing public understanding of the fundamental role of
microorganisms in sustaining life on Earth. IMiLI works toward reshaping the public narrative
around microbes—from a predominantly disease-centric perception to a holistic understanding of
microbes as essential drivers of ecosystem services, human health, agriculture, biotechnology,
climate resilience, and planetary sustainability.

  • Promote global microbial literacy across age groups.
  • Integrate microbial understanding within One Health and Planetary Health frameworks.
  • Advocate early education in systems thinking and microbiology.
  • Develop accessible, scientifically accurate educational resources.
  • Foster international collaborations in microbiology outreach.
  • Encourage scientists to actively engage in science communication

The IMiLI–South Asian Centre (IMiLI-SAC) functions as a non-profit academic initiative
within Phixgen Pvt. Ltd. While the IMiLI website and major IMiLI educational resources are
technically maintained within Phixgen Pvt. Ltd., all outreach programmes, lectures,
workshops, conferences, and community engagement activities are conducted under the
banner of IMiLI–SAC as part of its non-profit microbial literacy mission.
IMiLI-SAC serves as a regional hub for South Asia, translating the global IMiLI vision into
sustained grassroots action.
For more please visit: IMiLI-SAC

  • Promote microbial literacy among school students, college students, teachers, and
    communities.
  • Conduct structured outreach programs in rural and underserved regions.
  • Organise workshops on genomics, metagenomics, microbial ecology, and bioinformatics.
  • Build scientific capacity among early-career researchers.
  • Promote responsible science communication and publication ethics.
  • Organize conferences linking microbial science with sustainability.
  •  Strengthen academia–industry–society interfaces through Phixgen Pvt. Ltd.

Major Activities Performed Under IMiLI–SAC

These initiatives specifically target rural and first-generation learners, aligning microbial
science with sustainable living and environmental awareness.
 Bani School Innovation Camp (BaSIC I–VI) – Government Senior Secondary School,
Bani, Himachal Pradesh
 BIᴓSCOPE (I–III) – School enrichment programs in rural Himachal Pradesh
 UDGAM (I-III) – INSA Outreach Programme school engagement initiative
 Microbial literacy sessions in schools in Delhi, Noida, and Himachal Pradesh
 Poster competitions (World Microbiome Day, International Microorganism Day)
 Hands-on awareness sessions: “Educate the Children, Secure the Future”

  • Annual celebrations of International Microorganism Day across multiple Delhi
    University colleges on 17 th September.
  • MICROSPHERE 5.0 (2025): “Cultivating Microbe Mindsets: Celebrating the Diversity and Power of the Invisible Majority”.
  •  Public lectures and panel discussions on microbes and sustainability

A. Genomics, Metagenomics & Bioinformatics Capacity Building
 Pre-conference workshops on:
o Genomics & Metagenomics in Microbial Ecology
o Computational Biology for (Meta)Genomics
o Bioinformatics for Beginners
 National Workshops on Microbial Genomics and Metagenomics
 Academia–Industry certificate courses in computational biology
 Add-on courses for UG/PG students that bridge cutting-edge microbial genomics with
practical training.
b. Scientific Writing and Communication Workshops

Under IMiLI-SAC and Ambassador programmes:
 “Art of Scientific Writing and Communication” workshops
 Workshops on publishing in high-impact journals
 Science communication workshops across India (Delhi, Assam, Odisha, Tamil Nadu,
Punjab, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, etc.)
 Training sessions on responsible science and publication ethics

 7th & 8th International Conferences of INSCR under IMiLI-SAC
 Conferences on “Modulating the Environment with Microbes”
 “Exploring the Microbial World: Human Health and Environmental Sustainability”
 Indo-Swiss and Indo-Australian meetings on bioremediation
 International HCH & pesticide forums

 UN-SDGs (how microbes can help achieve 17 Sustainable Development Goals)
 Microbial ecology and climate discussions
 Environmental biotechnology training
 One Health and planetary sustainability frameworks

CLICK HERE.

Institutional Integration

IMiLI-SAC operates through:
1. INSA Senior Scientist initiatives
2. International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME) collaborations
3. Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) Ambassador programmes
4. Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI)
5. Indian Network for Soil Contamination Research (INSCR)
6. Phixgen Pvt. Ltd. (technical and resource support)

IMiLI- SAC Vision: Advancing Microbial Literacy for Sustainable Futures

IMiLI-SAC represents a structured regional implementation of the global IMiLI mission. It integrates:
a. Academic excellence
b. International collaborations
c. Grassroots outreach
d. Genomic-era microbial science
e. Capacity building
f. Public engagement
Through sustained outreach, workshops, conferences, and school-level interventions, IMiLI-SAC seeks to create:
1. Scientifically informed citizens
2. Responsible science communicators
3. Skilled young microbiologists
4. Environmentally conscious communities
The guiding philosophy remains:
“Microorganisms rule life on Earth — understanding them is essential for sustainable living.”
IMiLI-SAC continues to expand its footprint across South Asia by linking advanced microbial
genomics with public literacy, ensuring that microbiology serves not only laboratories and
journals but also classrooms, communities, and policy discourse.

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