Next year begins the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the most important organisms on the planet: bacteriophage.

Bacteriophage (phage) outnumber all other organisms, shuttling vast amounts of genetic material between species and environments. Their sheer numbers make them key controllers of global processes like carbon cycling and more local concerns like antibiotic resistance. Without the study of phages, biology as we know it would not exist. Through phage research, scientists determined that DNA was the blueprint of life, developed vaccines, and developed ways to treat wastewater, protect our agriculture, and cure diseases.

The SDSU Phage Group invites San Diego to celebrate 100 years of phage research at the Year of the Phage Meeting. Phage researchers and unicellular virologists from around the world will come together to present their work, remember the rich history of phage research, rub shoulders with some of the most important researchers in the field, and meet those who are revolutionizing the field today. The Year of the Phage Meeting is designed to pair the sharing of scientific ideas with a more casual and open discussion forum and lots of phage-inspired art.

Registration is $200 for non-students and $25 for students, retired faculty, and high-school teachers. Info: [email protected].