Anne Madden

Connector, Educator/Teacher, Explorer, Idea generator, Inventor, Scientist, Startup, World traveler, Writer/Editor

Anne A. Madden, Ph.D. is an award-winning scientist, inventor, and science communicator. She is a 2017 main stage TED speaker and in 2022 is a TED Speaker Ambassador. She explores the microbial world around us and finds "microbial solutions for human problems." As a microbe wrangler, her mission is to reveal the utility of often-ignored species around us. She has named a new species, discovered novel antibiotics, and developed pioneering microbial technology in the fields of pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and food and beverage technology....one of which involves patented brewing technology from yeast inside wasps. Her research and creative projects have been covered by National Geographic, Newsweek, PBS Newshour, Scientific American, Vice, The Verge, The Atlantic, and the BBC. She recently founded The Microbe Institute, an organization dedicated to fostering microbial discovery for a better tomorrow through participatory education, art, and scientific research initiatives to democratize microbiology exploration and make the science--and wonder--of the microbial world more accessible than ever before.

Revealing the utility, value, and beauty of the microscopic world around us. We are living in the greatest age of discovery. The future is so much brighter than we can imagine.

The most life-changing innovations of our next 100 years will come from the wild microbes around us. And we can all be a part of their discovery.

Arthropods (bugs), Beer, Biology, Engagement, Food, Innovation, Microbial Discovery, Microbiology, Microbiome, Research, Science, Science Communication, Technology, ThingsThatRequireMoreThanOneWordToDescribe

I am a 2017 main stage speaker. Unlike other speakers in my cohort that year (such as the pope), I was the one who said "sex on your face" on the stage. I've given a number of TEDx talks, TED Session talks, and TED workshops over the years. I've also had the great privilege of being a TED Speaker Ambassador for multiple years, including in 2022. I adore the TED community and have enjoyed the incredible collaborations that arise from this unique space. If you think we might be able to partner on something to make the world better... even in a very small way, please reach out!

Catching poison dart frogs and snakes in the jungle of Central America, archery in heels, and finding absolute joy in a bouncy house.