The Digital Health Hub for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) took centre stage at New Scientist Live 2025, held from 18–20 October at ExCeL London, bringing AMR research to thousands of curious visitors.
Our interactive stand invited attendees to explore and understand the ways in which AMR can show up in everyday life, and the actions that we can take to help preserve antibiotics.
Across three bustling days, a team of postdoctoral researchers and PhD students from the Hub’s partner universities engaged with visitors through hands-on activities, and creative storytelling. Visitors were encouraged to place plush toy bacteria (representing microbes like E. coli and MRSA) onto a city mural, guessing where they might live and spread - sparking meaningful conversations about AMR in human, animal, and environmental settings.
Other activities included the ‘Petri Dish Detectives’ game, where visitors explored how microbiologists identify bacteria using agar plates, and ‘Top Trumps: AMR Edition’, which introduced the concept of resistant strains. Furthermore, a special guest appearance from Andi Biotic, the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) Keep Antibiotics Working mascot, was a huge success amongst children and families while reinforcing important public health messages through fun, interactive engagement.
Our partnership with Antibiotic Guardian served as a call to action for our stand. Attendees were invited to sign up as Antibiotic Guardians, committing to one or more pledges that promote the responsible use of antibiotics – over the weekend, we acquired over 100 new Antibiotic Guardian sign-ups.
“The New Scientist Live was an incredible opportunity to connect with thousands of people from all walks of life - from school students to teachers, vets and clinicians,” said Vaish Sundaresan, Communications Manager for the Digital Health Hub for AMR. “Seeing visitors interact with our mural and commit to becoming Antibiotic Guardians was inspiring. Every pledge and conversation helps build a community that understands AMR and wants to act.”
Dr Diane Ashiru-Oredope, Lead Pharmacist, Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections Division at UKHSA said: “Public awareness is one of the strongest tools we have in protecting the effectiveness of antibiotics, and initiatives like this help make AMR tangible and relevant to everyday life. I am delighted to see that over 100 people signed up to become Antibiotic Guardians - collective action is the key to driving change.”
The Hub’s participation was made possible through collaboration with UKHSA and the support of volunteers from our partner institutions across the UK, including Bangor University, The University of Sheffield, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, University of Oxford, Bangor University and University College London.
The Hub’s involvement in New Scientist Live 2025 reflects its ongoing commitment to engaging diverse audiences and building awareness of AMR through creativity and collaboration.
