Between June 22 and 24, 2026, the Faculty of Biology of UB, ICUB & ASFC organized the third edition of the international conference “Medical, Agricultural and Industrial Microbiology. Bacteria, Fungi and Viruses: Friends or Foes?”

From June 22–24, 2026, the third edition of the international conference “Medical, Agricultural and Industrial Microbiology. Bacteria, Fungi and Viruses: Friends or Foes?” took place, hosted by the University of Bucharest.

Organized by the Faculty of Biology of UB, the Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), and the Arab Society for Fungal Conservation (ASFC), in partnership with MIRRI-ERIC (Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure – European Research Infrastructure Consortium) and the National Institute for Chemical-Pharmaceutical Research and Development (ICCF) Bucharest, the conference aimed to serve as an interdisciplinary forum for exploring how advances in microbial research translate from academia into practical applications.

The event’s program included internationally renowned keynote speakers, interactive workshops, dynamic poster sessions, and oral presentations designed to stimulate networking, global collaboration, and the exchange of the latest breakthroughs in the field of microbial sciences. Through the diversity of the topics addressed, the quality of the presentations, and the exceptional scientific dialogue, the conference provided an ideal framework for exchanging ideas, developing international collaborations, and promoting young researchers.

Held in a hybrid format at the Research Platform in Biology and Systemic Ecology within the Faculty of Biology of UB, the conference brought together contributions from Romania and abroad, uniting faculty members, researchers, specialists, PhD candidates, master’s, and undergraduate students interested in the role of microorganisms in health, agriculture, industry, biotechnology, and the environment.

The conference benefited from the presence of prestigious keynote speakers: Prof. Vijai K. Gupta, from India, specialist in microbiology, fungal biotechnology, and bioprocesses; Prof. Lobna Hajji-Hedfi, from Tunisia, specialist in phytopathology, mycology, fungal biodiversity, and sustainable agriculture; Prof. Giovanna Cristina Varese, from Italy, specialist in mycology, fungal biodiversity, biotechnology, and the conservation of microbial resources; Prof. Abdullah Al-Hatmi, from Oman, specialist in medical mycology, molecular diagnosis of fungal infections, and antifungal resistance; Prof. Mariana Erasmus, from South Africa, specialist in mineral biogeochemistry, applied microbiology, and microorganism–environment interactions; and Prof. Ahmed M. Abdel-Azeem, from Egypt, specialist in mycology, fungal biodiversity, taxonomy, and fungal conservation.

The full agenda of the conference can be consulted here.

The best presentations were awarded.

The best presentations of young researchers were rewarded with the Prof. Zemo Award for Young Researchers. Thus, to support early-career youth, this year’s committee granted two distinct awards: the Best Oral Presentation Award, won by Azil Coertzen from South Africa, and the Best Poster Presentation Award, awarded to Ana-Maria Georgescu and Shaikh Sheeran Naser from India.

The criteria for determining the winners focused on: 1. Scientific merit: Originality, methodology, and the impact of the research; 2. Presentation and design: Visual clarity of the poster or presentation and the overall structure; and 3. Engagement: The speaker’s ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and to answer questions from the audience.

Each winner received a cash prize of 100 USD, along with an official certificate.

Previous editions of the conference

The First International Conference on Fungal Conservation in the Middle East and North of Africa (ICFC 2016), 18-20 October 2016, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt (http://fungiofegypt.com/Conference/2016/).

The Second International Conference on Mycology in MENA (ICM-2018), 16-18 October 2018, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt (http://fungiofegypt.com/Conference/2018/).