We are excited to be inviting contributions to a new lexicon in the field of social study of microbes, titled Wording and worlding with microbes.
What is the aim of this lexicon?
Wording and worlding with microbes is a lexicon arising from emergent work across social theory and microbial realms, documenting how social microbes have been theorized. Built around both common and novel terms, concepts, and phrases of microbial sociality, the lexicon is a tool for researchers and practitioners in social sciences, humanities, arts and beyond, who are interested in social studies of microbes. It aims to be concise and expansive, while performatively engaging with meanings and usage as alive, temporal, discipline-dependent, and incomplete, and therefore always in the process of becoming.
Wording and worlding with microbes will be initially hosted online, although the editors are also exploring the possibilities of a print version. The website design will emphasize the lively, conversational, and process-forward approach to emphasize the malleability and creativity underlying this lexicon, simultaneously performing definitional acts while critically questioning the role of static meaning.
What will the lexicon include?
The lexicon aims to capture this liveliness in multiple ways. There are two parts to an entry: 1) definition of a key concept and 2) its hyphae.
First, definitions are 1000-word long reviews of current writing on a term and the origins of that concept.
Second, definitions are illustrated with and at times in generative tensions with their ‘hyphae’. Inspired by how microbial hyphae often facilitate metabolic exchanges and structural expansions, the lexicon will show how the terms and concepts are used or even evolve beyond academic conversations. A hypha can have multiple entries including case studies or multimodal entries such as artwork, poetry, audio, film, or other non-textual inputs.
When published, the online platform of the lexicon will enable moderated comments so that hyphae can also include peer-review to foreground relationality and process as social meaning-making within and through the lexicon.
How to participate?
A preliminary list of terms has been co-curated as the foundation of the lexicon. You can find this list here. You can either choose one of these terms or select one of your own. Please ‘register’ on the page to mark the concept about which you would like to write an entry by writing your name and contact details next to a term. You can also join other authors by contacting them and forming an author group. You can also register just to provide material for a hypha.
Author guidelines
1) Concept Definitions
In concept definitions, key terms or phrases should be framed drawing on literature on the social study of microbes and should aim to capture key approaches and differences in how a term has a been used. Entries aim to cover the wider usage of terms rather than through the author’s own research. Terms can be initially described more generally in their social science “legacy” and then more specifically in relation to microbes. Key terms should be textual and literature-based.
Should include:
- Length 750-1000 words
- 5-10 key references cited in the text, in APA citation style
- Can include max 5 related terms
2) Hyphae
Hyphae are broadly conceived as empirical and explorative engagements with situated and empirical microbial worlds. There is no expected form or structure that a hypha should take in illustrating a concept, and entries beyond written words or even multimodal ones are very much welcomed. These entries can either be grounded in the author’s/authors’ own research and practice, or gesture to existing publications, projects and/or practices.
Hypha entries may also demonstrate and engage with a descriptive entry in a way that is in tension with common usage/understandings of a term. For example, an entry on a situated fermentation practice that challenges wider usage of the term ‘fermentation’ could be included.
The hypha entries should include a legend describing their meanings and connections to the main entry and the term to which it is connected.
Should include:
- Optional format, either URL links to existing texts or art-work, or pdf, jpg, etc. that can be uploaded online
- A legend describing the entry and its connection to the concept entry (max 50 words)
- References cited in APA style if relevant
- Related keywords
Key dates:
‘Register’ for descriptive entries by 23 June 2025 at this address.
Entry drafts will be due 15 August 2025. Further information will be provided to registered authors about assigned editors and how to submit the entries.
Feedback and revision deadlines: editors will give feedback to authors by mid- September.
Goal for initial online upload: end of 2025.
Lexicon editorial collective: Katy Overstreet, Tiff Mak, Tiia Sudenkaarne, Salla Sariola
Contact for more information: cssm@helsinki.fi
