ABOUT

A small planning tool for teaching labs.

Microbiology Atlas helps college and university microbiology teaching-lab coordinators, technicians and faculty plan purchases: what to buy given the stock they already have, what a semester will cost, and what to check before ordering.

Who runs it

Microbiology Atlas is an independent project run by Forest van Eeden. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), any supplier, or any college or university. Links to ASM guidance are there because it is the most relevant public reference, not because ASM has reviewed this site.

Where the project is

This is a pilot. The planner, semester budget, checklist and downloadable report work today. We have not yet run interviews with coordinators, so we do not claim the tool fills a proven gap. The next step is to watch a handful of coordinators use it on real purchases and improve the part that helps most.

• Built: one-item stock and pack planner, semester budget, eight-point review checklist, downloadable report.
• Not built: multi-item plans, live supplier prices, saved sessions, accounts or checkout.

How we decide what to say

• The calculators show their formulas, and the report records the exact formula version used.
• The planner will tell you to buy nothing when your stock already covers the need, even though that earns nothing for anyone.
• We have not done hands-on product reviews. Supplier links are a starting point for your own research, not recommendations.
• How we would handle any future paid relationships is set out on the disclosures page.

Get in touch

Feedback from people who plan teaching-lab purchases is the most useful thing you can send. See contact.

Last updated 8 October 2026.