The hidden world of biofilm: how Vibrioscope combines art with science to expose an invisible threat
In a classroom at Dibber International School Sollentuna, just north of Stockholm, a student adjusts the focus on a microscope. The others lean in, watching as a tiny world teeming with microbial life comes into view.
Vibrioscope workshop at Dibber International School Sollentuna
For artist and visual storyteller Anna Villaplana, this moment captures the essence of Vibrioscope, a project blending microbiology, participatory art, and science communication. Funded by FORMAS (the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development) and in collaboration with Professor Elena Gorokhova and Associate Professor Rehab El-Shehawy from the Department of Environmental Science, the initiative highlights Vibrio bacteria—organisms flourishing in warming waters, often undetected.
A microbial threat hiding in plain sight
Vibrio bacteria occur naturally in marine and freshwater environments, but rising temperatures are allowing them to spread. The combination of warming waters and plastic pollution creates ideal conditions for these microbes to thrive. Biofilms—slimy microbial communities that form on surfaces in aquatic environments—offer Vibrio a habitat to grow and, in some cases, become more dangerous.
The scientific foundation of Vibrioscope is strengthened through its collaboration with the VIBRIANCY project, an interdisciplinary initiative investigating aquatic biofilms. This partnership allows students not only to document microbial life through photography but also to contribute biofilm samples for research, deepening the project’s engagement with both education and environmental science.
“Cases of Vibrio infections are increasing in places where they were previously rare, like the Baltic Sea,” the Vibrioscope team writes in their FORMAS application.
Despite the growing risk, public awareness remains low. Vibrioscope aims to change that by using photography, visual storytelling, and hands-on participation to bring an invisible microbial world into focus.
The art of making science visible
At Dibber International School Sollentuna and during a summer school programme at the Department of Environmental Science, Villaplana led photography workshops using biofilm samples collected from local lakes and rivers. From the outset, the workshops had no fixed template. Villaplana approached each one as an evolving experiment, shaping the format through trial and engagement with students. Each session provided insights, gradually refining the workshops into their current structure.
The enthusiasm was greater than expected. “We originally planned for around 10 students, but many more wanted to join. We had between 15 and 20 kids, which was a lot for a single microscope session,” Villaplana recalls.
The first iteration of the programme ran for four weeks. “Running four sessions was too short because the kids really wanted to go deeper,” she says. Now, an expanded version is planned, with six to eight sessions to allow students to delve further into both the scientific and creative aspects of the project.
Another challenge has been working with students of different ages. “The youngest ones were between 13 to 14 years old, and the oldest, 16 to17. The difference was interesting because some kids were very into the science, while others were drawn to the artistic aspect.”
The creative journey
The process begins with students collecting biofilm samples accompanied by researchers, examining them under microscopes, and capturing images of the microbial world. Initially, they take pictures based on instinct, selecting what intrigues them without a set artistic direction. But from these raw images, a creative journey unfolds.
To guide them, Villaplana introduces artistic strategies such as creating a series of images or juxtaposing contrasting concepts. She encourages students to consider how scientific imagery can serve as artistic composition, allowing them to interpret their findings in a personal way.
Villaplana provides technical support but ensures that students make the key artistic decisions. “I support them with the software when needed, but I try to be more of an operative assistant,” she says. “I want them to own the artistic process and make the conceptual decisions themselves.”
In addition to its Stockholm-based initiatives, Vibrioscope is set to expand to Malawi and Uganda in 2025. The workshops in Malawi will be conducted in person, with several participants already confirmed, while the Uganda sessions will take place online in collaboration with a local teacher on-site. Both regions face significant challenges related to plastic pollution and waterborne diseases, making the expansion particularly timely. Successfully implementing the expansion will require careful planning, from adapting the programme to diverse cultural and educational settings to fostering meaningful collaboration with local communities.
Rethinking science communication
What makes Vibrioscope stand out is its departure from traditional science communication. Rather than relying on lectures and warnings, the project draws participants into an interactive, visual, and creative process. The goal is not just to educate but to expand how people perceive their surroundings. By merging microbiology with visual storytelling, the project goes beyond simply informing—it challenges people to see the world with a new lens.
And in the age of climate change, where some of the greatest threats are invisible to the naked eye, that shift in perception may be more important than ever.
Last updated: March 24, 2025
Source: Department of Environmental Science