Episode 5 - Alexandre Soares Rosado: "Collaboration, not competition"

Welcome to another episode of MVIF Conversations – the Podcast! In this episode, we are joined by professor Alexandre Soares Rosado, a microbial ecologist whose research spans extreme environments, astrobiology, biotechnology, and microbiome science. As Professor of Bioscience at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, he investigates how microbial communities adapt and thrive across deserts, mangroves, marine systems, and even planetary analog environments.Together with our hosts Svetlana Ugarcina Perovic and Christina Pavloudi, Professor Rosado reflects on his journey into microbiology, the hidden complexity of so-called “extreme” ecosystems, and the role of collaboration in addressing global environmental challenges. The conversation also explores desert microbiomes, planetary simulation chambers, the future of microbiome research, and how emerging technologies are reshaping the way scientists study life on Earth — and beyond.A fascinating and forward-looking discussion on microbes, resilience, exploration, and the future of life in a changing world.Want to know more about MVIF? Visit: https://www.microbiome-vif.org/