Congratulations to IHBE member Dr. Gwynne Mhuireach, recipient of the Outstanding Article Award from Urban Agriculture and Regional Food Systems (UARFS)!
Her award-winning article, “Garden soil bacteria transiently colonize gardeners’ skin after direct soil contact,” examines microbial communities in urban soils, their transfer to gardeners’ skin, and how long these microbes persist. Urban soils remain vastly understudied compared to agricultural and wildland soils, making this research an important step toward understanding their composition and potential health benefits, including building immunity and protecting against chronic disorders such as allergies and asthma.