Public perception of microorganisms and microbiology education: a need for enhancing society’s microbiology literacy

Understanding the public perception of health risks and trust in information sources is a matter of great relevance, especially nowadays, with conflicting messages from different agencies, media and social platforms causing unnecessary scares and creating inappropriate risk perceptions by the public. The example of SARS-CoV-2 and Covid-19 pandemic social messages influencing public perception is used in this chapter to understand the notion of conceptions and social representations, and their implications in education, particularly in microbiology education. Didactic transposition applied to SARS-CoV-2 and Covid-19 pandemic is discussed based on the KVP model (Knowledge, Values and Practices), and common pupils' perception of microorganisms is described. Special attention is given to the need for reinforcing microbiology in national curricula and providing students positive experiences in microbiology learning, including hands-on and experimental activities. In addition, museums, scientific societies, and scientific journals' enthusiastic activities provide citizens with knowledge and awareness about microorganisms and enhance society's microbiology literacy.This research had partial financial support of Portuguese national funds through the FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology) within the framework of the CIEC project UIDB/00317/2020 and CEB project UIDB/04469/2020. It also had the partial support of the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement Nº 871129 - IS_MIRRI21 Project