Presenter: Kyla Martichuski
Mentor: Jessica Green
Poster: 20
Major: Biology/Human Physiology
Researchers working at the intersection of biology and architecture have begun to investigate how building design structures the microbial communities of indoor environments. Given that we spend approximately 90% of our lives indoors, there is great potential to impact human health by incorporating biological understanding into building design. Ultraviolet light and direct daylight have well-known detrimental effects on the growth and viability of bacteria, but this relationship has not yet been applied to indoor environments. We designed an experiment to test how different architecturally relevant daylighting schemes impact the viability of microorganisms in the built environment. We constructed 3 sets of 1:32 scale models of a classroom with window glass panes transparent to either UV, visible, or no light. Bacteria were grown on media at 15 distinct locations throughout the model to reproduce the distribution of light exposure in a typical classroom. We measured bacterial viability after one day of exposure to the respective light treatments. Levels of both UV and visible light typically experienced in built environments were found to significantly impact the viability of Pseudomonas monteilii and Escherichia coli—two human-associated bacteria commonly found indoors. Most notably, viability was reduced in areas near windows with higher light exposure.
This evidence could inform future decisions about lighting schemes in hospitals and other healthcare facilities where biological insight is crucial. This study aims to demonstrate that integrating biological knowledge into architectural decisions can create a bioinformed perspective on buildings that promotes human health.