031: Content in Cement: Julie Maresca Discusses the Concrete Microbiome

Julie Maresca is an associate professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Delaware. Concrete is the most commonly used building material in the world, and is a very unique dry, high pH environment with special chemical properties. Amazingly, there are microbial communities that live within concrete.

Dr. Maresca talks about these trapped communities of microbes, whether they are dormant or growing, whether microbes could be added to make concrete stronger, how some bacteria can thrive in conditions where there are no apparent nutrients, and how the thrill of discovery drove her to be a scientist.

The MicroCase for listeners to solve is about Sarah Lee, the diabetic baker at Cake Baby who becomes sick after walking through her neighborhood to work.

Participants:

Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA)

Julie Maresca, Ph.D. (University of Delaware)

Jesus Romo (UTSA)