Microbes (living organisms so small we cannot see them without
magnification) play fundamental roles in every aspect of life on
this planet. Recently, enormous effort has gone into
characterizing the microbes in the outdoor world (from the
bottom of the oceans to the upper reaches of the atmosphere) as
well as those in our “inner world” (the microbes living in and
on plants and animals including us). Alas, the space between the
outdoors and our insides is somewhat neglected. Yet there are
teeming hordes of microbes in the cars, houses, offices, water
pipes, and other places that make up the “built environment”
where most of us spend most of our time. Thanks to continuing
advances in DNA sequencing technology, and a recent initiative
by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, this gap in knowledge is
beginning to be addressed. This site – the microbiology of the
Built Environment network (aka microBEnet) – is intended as a
web hub for “connecting, communicating, collaborating, and
curating” people and information rela