Day 1 (cont'd) The base hat was created by Marie Galvin Fine Millinery in Boston, MA (A woman-owned company) and I think her characteristic wind-swept ribbons highlight how we can detect these microbes in part by the way they smell. #Microbehatproject

Day 1: This hat features a 3D printed molecule of Streptomycin. This is one of the OG antibiotics, saving many from the Great White Plague that is Tuberculosis. It came from a soil microbe (actino), which also creates the smell of fresh-turned earth (geosmin). #microbehatproject

New microbe hat to help me talk about the corona virus. If the virus was to scale, the hat would be the size of a bacterial cell. One human skin cell? That would be ~7 steps long of someone wearing the hat (my cat helped model the distance) #microbehatproject #Coronavirus #sciart

A view from the 29th 1st annual Ig Nobel Award stage during their airplane throw last week. Did you see the microbe hats worn on stage by the curtain rod (people)? 1 featured a 3D printed yeast model & another Penicillin molecules. #MicrobeHatProject @Harvard @improbresearch

The ig nobels start soon! Be on the lookout for the curtain rods wearing microbe hats. I’ll be wearing a hat featureing a 3D printed yeast model & the other curtain rod will be have a hat w/a 3D printed Penicillin molecule on it! #MicrobeHatProject #scicomm #IgNobel #ignobel2019

Each hat facilitates discussions about the microbial science it features. This uses the data-driven approach of a constructivist mental model for effective science communication rather than just a deficit model. #MicrobeHatProject #scicomm #enagement #stemed #sciart

The black and red one features a microbe from the soil that makes neosporin to highlight that new antibiotics that help us come from microbes that can be living around us, we just need to find them. (Topic: value of diversity and conservation) #MicrobeHatProject

The black one features molecules of Penicillin to talk about how many of our antibiotics come from soil bacteria and fungi. Because they are often used by the microbes to defend against bacteria, they are not effective against viruses (topic: AB resistance). #MicrobeHatProject

The black and white one features a microbe that is found in bird feathers and makes enzymes used in laundry detergents that allow us to use sig less energy by washing clothing at colder temps (topic: climate change). #MicrobeHatProject photo cred: @TEDTalks

The pink one features yeast to talk about how microbes help us make food. It features scratch and sniff stickers with accurate bread (yeast) aromas to make the hat more accessible to diverse (non-visually abled) audiences.(Topic: non-disease microbes and food) #MicrobeHatProject

Here is the whimsy that I am using to spark such discussions. This is the v1.0 measles hat. A hat meant to spark discussions & engage new audiences as part of the #microbehatproject. It features a 3D printed measles virus. I will wear this at #defcon @defcon in the future...

Some of the amazing hat game of fellow fashion runway contestants at @defcon @Hack3rRunway @riabaldevia @integgroll (sorry about the crappy photo- my defcon phone is not wonderful) #microbehatproject

This hat features a 3D printed bacterial biofilm. The hat is a conversation hook to help discuss science. This one helps start a conversation about microbes that help us fight climate change. i had the pleasure of sharing this project at @TEDTalks Summit #Microbehatproject

Today’s hat features a 3D printed bacterial colony (scaled up & printed in plastic). This species naturally produces Neosporin (antibiotic) for us & harmlessly lives on feathers. Shape file courtesy of @socialmicrobes #microbehatproject #TEDSummit #sciart #yeast #3Dprint #steam

Today’s hat features 3D printed yeast cells. The cells replicate in sugary environments & transform the inedible to nutritive & flavorful. What’s your favorite use for yeast? (Saccharomyces) in research or the kitchen? #microbehatproject #TEDSummit #sciart #yeast #3Dprint #steam

Today’s hat features 3D printed Penicillin molecules (the red bits). It comes from the fungus Penicillium. Many of our therapeutics were discovered from soil microbes. E.g. antibiotics, immunosuppressive drugs, & cholesterol-lowering meds #microbehatproject #TEDSummit #sciart

Today’s hat features a 3D printed budding yeast cell. This yeast is enough of a relative of ours that our cells are similar. Scientists study this yeast to better understand how our cells work or how they don’t work (e.g. when they turn cancerous) #microbehatproject #TEDSummit

I believe it is no secret that I aspire to win an Ig Nobel rather than a Nobel prize. If you find delight in this presentation as much as I do, make sure to buy a ticket. I'm happy to see you there! (I'll be the one wearing the #MicrobeHatProject)...