Megan Dixon successfully defended her thesis, Impacts of Xanthomonas foliar disease on the fate and biology of Salmonella enterica last Thursday, Feb 29.

Throughout Megan’s doctoral training, she has inspired us with her art and demonstrated art’s place in science communication. To help people understand the world around them, build trust in science, and expand scientific literacy, Megan has used whimsy, color, cartoons, and knitting to make her research more approachable and accessible to people outside the discipline of molecular microbe – plant interactions, as well as people who are not in a scientific field.

Megan’s research used two patho-systems, Xanthomonas vitians – lettuce and Xanthomonas sp. – tomato.

Pictured is Megan’s parting gift to Jeri. Turquoise Salmonella enterica to remind us all of how difficult creating fluorescent bacterial strains can be! And a green tomato, the fresh produce commonly causing salmonellosis outbreaks, not animal products – the outdated concept that persists with the public.

More of Megan’s art can be seen throughout the Barak Lab website.

Thanks Megan for enriching our lives with your art!

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