MEEHubs2026

A hub-based conference on Microbial Ecology and Evolution

Taking place Aug 3 - 5, 2026

Submit your abstract here

Abstract submission now closed.

Register here

Registration deadline end of July, 2026 or until full.

We have limited spaces at in-person hubs, so secure your spot early!

About MEEHubs



MEEHubs2024 statistics:


Science is a global endeavor, but traveling across the planet for conferences is a resource intensive activity, producing a large amount of CO2 emissions. In addition, international scientific conferences are often organized in the Global North, making it expensive and bureaucratically difficult for people in the Global South to attend, reducing democratic access to science. Virtual conferences offer a viable alternative: they reduce environmental impact, broaden participation across countries, and improve accessibility for researchers with disabilities or caregiving responsibilities. At the same time, in-person interactions remain essential for building community and fostering collaboration.

MEEHubs offers a hybrid model that combines the strengths of both approaches: remote content for global accessibility and in-person interactions through local hubs worldwide. Building on the success of MEEHubs2024 (link to paper), we are thrilled to announce that MEEHubs2026 will take place from August 3–5, 2026, at seven local hubs and online.

The most amazing microbial ecology and evolution research is happening in many different countries, and MEEHubs facilitates everyone coming together in an inclusive space; a space that is supportive to early career researchers while recognizing the legacy and work of those that came before us, a space that is diverse in its human dimensions and scientific content. We think microbial ecology and evolution is a welcoming discipline with a very interdisciplinary composition (field biologists, microbiologists, virologists, bioinformaticians, biophysicists, mathematicians, etc). With MEEHubs, we strive to foster a more inclusive, equitable, and environmentally responsible model for scientific conferences.

NCCR Microbiomes, Switzerland's National Centre of Competence in Research dedicated to advancing microbiome science through interdisciplinary collaboration, proudly supports MEEhubs2026. Building on its pivotal role as the main sponsor of MEEhubs2024, which pioneered a sustainable, multi-hub format for microbial ecology and evolution, this backing ensures an inclusive, low-carbon platform connecting global researchers. Join us for innovative exchanges that lower barriers to participation.

Hubs

MEEHubs2026 will be hosted across 7 hubs and 6 timezones, all connected online. Click on each hub for more information about the hub.

Location: Beckman Center, Irvine

Organizer(s): Maria Rebolleda-Gomez

Location: Auditorium of the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, UNAM, Morelia

Organizer(s): Ayari Fuentes, Luciana Raggi Hoyos

Location: Stewart Biology Building, McGill University, Montreal

Organizer(s): Aaron Hinz, Aline Cuénod, Emma Derrick, Rachel Gregor

Location: Biological Sciences Building, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Organizer(s): Luis Zaman, Emma Carlson

UK Hub

UTC+1

Location: Michael Smith Building, University of Manchester, Manchester

Organizer(s): Will Smith, Danna Gifford, Michael Bottery

Location: HIT E51 (Siemens auditorium), Campus Hönggerberg, ETH Zurich, Zurich

Organizer(s): Marco Gabrielli, Anna Weiss, Samuel Miravet-Verde, Martin Sperfeld

Location: T.H. Shevchenko National University "Chernihiv Colehium", Chernihiv

Organizer(s): Nataliia Tkachuk

Virtual only

Invited Speakers

University of Minnesota, USA

New England Biolabs + Durham University, USA

Vira Boroday

National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine

University of Dundee

Oleksandr Lukash

T.H. Shevchenko National University "Chernihiv Colehium", Ukraine

University of New Brunswick, Canada

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Instituto de Ecologia, Mexico

Etzel Garrido

Autonomous University of Queretaro, Mexico

University of Minnesota, USA

Michigan State University, USA

McGill University, Canada

Esperanza Martinez-Romero

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Unidad Cuernavaca, Mexico

University of California San Diego, USA

University of Lausanne, Switzerland

University of Nottingham, UK

University of Lausanne, Switzerland

ETH Zurich and Eawag, Switzerland

McGill University, Canada

University of Exeter, UK

University of California Irvine, USA

University of California Irvine, USA

Liubov Zelena

Zabolotny Institute Microbiology and Virology, NAS of Ukraine





Abstract submission

Key dates

Abstract submission is now closed.

A notification of acceptance or rejection of the submitted abstracts will be sent out by mid-June 2026.

Information

Abstracts can be submitted for either oral or poster presentations at one of the seven in-person hubs. Participants joining via the virtual hub can present their work in the form of a poster, while talks will be hosted at the physical hubs only.

All posters can additionally be uploaded to the conference platform, allowing participants across all hubs to view them during the conference.

Submit your abstract here

Here is an overview of the program for MEEHubs2026. We are now excited to share the detailed program here.

Registration

Registration is now open! There are three steps associated with registration:

  1. Buy tickets to attend a hub (the virtual hub is free of charge) using this link.
  2. The confirmation email after payment is received will give you a link to register for access to all conference related content and online participation via our website.
  3. Don't forget to submit your abstract! This is separate from registration and can be done here. Please use the same email address for registration and abstract submission to make things easier.

Thanks to support from U.S. National Science Foundation, NCCR Microbiomes and local sponsors, the cost for MEEHubs2026 will be minimal and virtual-only attendance will be free of charge. We hope that this way everyone that wants to participate can find a way to join us!

This event is designed to be inclusive and internationally accessible through its hub structure, bringing together researchers from all backgrounds who share an interest in microbial ecology and evolution. We warmly welcome participants from underrepresented groups and are committed to fostering a conference environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and able to contribute fully. We value the diversity of perspectives that strengthens our field and strive to create a space free from discrimination, harassment, and barriers to participation.

We invite you to join us at one of our hubs in August and be part of the international microbial ecology and evolution community.

Registration deadline end of July, 2026 or until full.

We have limited spaces at in-person hubs, so secure your spot early!

CALIFORNIA HUB

43 CHF (~55 USD)

22 CHF (~28 USD)

for students

MEXICO HUB

10 CHF (~223 Pesos)

5 CHF (~111 Pesos)

for students

CANADA EAST HUB

75 CHF (~133 CAD)

55 CHF (~97 CAD)

for students

US EAST HUB

43 CHF (~55 USD)

22 CHF (~28 USD)

for students

UK HUB

114 CHF (~109 GBP)


SWITZERLAND HUB

150 CHF

UKRAINE HUB

FREE



Live in-hub talks

Streamed cross-hub talks

Live poster session

Cross-hub activities

Access to all talk recordings

Access to all virtual posters

ONLINE ONLY

FREE

Talks streamed live online

Cross-hub activities

Access to all talk recordings

Access to all virtual posters

If the registration fee presents a barrier to your participation, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us — we may be able to offer discounted rates in individual cases.

Register here

Organizing committee

University of Calgary, Canada

University of Manchester, UK

Emma Carlson

University of Michigan, USA

Aline Cuénod

ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Emma Derrick

McGill University, Canada

UNAM, Mexico

Marco Gabrielli

eawag, Switzerland

University of Manchester, UK

University of Toronto, Canada

Aaron Hinz

McGill University, Canada

Samuel Miravet-Verde

ETH Zurich, Switzerland

UNAM, Mexico

UC Irvine, USA

University of Manchester, UK

Martin Sperfeld

ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Astrid Stubbusch

Monash University, Australia

Robin Tecon

University of Lausanne & NCCR Microbiomes, Switzerland

Nataliia Tkachuk

T.H. Shevchenko National University "Chernihiv Colehium", Ukraine

ETH Zurich and Eawag, Switzerland

University of Michigan, USA

SPONSORS

Central funding

Local funding

CONTACT

Email: info@meehubs.org

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