[MUSIC PLAYING]
The microbiome is
quickly becoming
one of the most important
scientific discoveries
of our time.
You see, a microbiome is
like a whole rainforest
in a drop of water.
These tiny organisms
and ecosystems
are thriving
everywhere on Earth.
They're in the human
body, in our buildings,
in our soils and oceans,
literally everywhere.
We are now discovering that our
planet, our health, and perhaps
even our happiness
depend upon them.
Some of these discoveries
are being made right here
at the University of
Chicago, Argonne National
Laboratory, and the Marine
Biological Laboratory.
That's why all three
institutions are joining forces
to form the Microbiome Center.
With this new center, scientists
from all three institutions
can harness and share
cutting-edge technologies
and research findings that
will lead to new insights
about the world we live in.
Microbiome research
could change the way
we practice medicine,
improve our productivity,
and even restore the health
of damaged ecosystems.
But to realize this
vast potential,
we need expertise from many
different fields of study.
That's why the Microbiome
Center is so powerful.
It brings researchers together
from the University of Chicago,
a pioneer in
interdisciplinary study
and one of the leading research
universities in the world,
Argonne, a national
laboratory that
pushes the boundaries
of fundamental science,
applied science and engineering,
and the Marine Biological
Laboratory, which
convenes scientists
from around the globe, providing
unparalleled biological and
environmental expertise.
The Microbiome
Center is positioned
to conduct the most advanced
research-- research that
could prevent obesity, or
stabilize global climate,
treat depression, or improve
our agricultural productivity
and food security.
Our center will
support scientists
who are confronting
these challenges,
help them quickly
translate their findings
to private and clinical sectors,
and train the next generation
of scientists to take on this
important new field of study.
We'll tackle complex
questions and apply
research that only a decade
ago was unimaginable.
This is an exciting
time for those of us
who want to realize
the potential
of microbiome research to
change the world for everyone.
