2020 Transformative Learning Conference

An introduction to the roots of TL learning theory and contemporary conceptualizations of TL

The purpose of my research was to address the problem of a declining supply of antibiotics. Due to the antimicrobial resistance, common bacterial infections are increasingly becoming untreatable. In this project, I was engaging with transformative learning research by being involved in research, creative, and scholarly activities. I had screened soil samples for different parts of Edmond to find potential new antibiotic producers. By using the relatives of ESKAPE pathogens (B.subtilis, S. epidermidis, E. aerogenes, and A. baylyi). I was able to test the bacteria I screened from soil to see if they produce antibiotics.
I found 12 possible candidates of antibiotic-producing bacteria. After the isolation, Gram- staining has been performed for additional information on the bacteria. Those antibiotic-producing candidates have been stored in glycerol solution and are frozen for future DNA sequencing and research. I had learned about microbial diversity in the soil in lots of courses. In this project, I was able to see and work with soil bacteria and observe their diversity.
The antibiotic producers I found from soil can be used for good health and wellness of human beings, which corresponds to the “Health and wellness” tenets of transformative learning. In addition to my research, teaching a lab mate who was interested in my research was meaningful as I could make another person engaged in antibiotics issues around the globe.