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A cost-effective and resource-efficient hands-on educational module that uses an interdisciplinary approach to characterize antimicrobial compounds, combining microbiology experiments and a physics-based analytical model., We have developed a hands-on experimental module that combines biology experiments with a physics-based analytical model in order to characterize antimicrobial compounds. To understand antibiotic resistance, participants perform a disc diffusion assay to test the antimicrobial activity of different compounds and then apply a diffusion-based analytical model to gain insights into the behavior of the active antimicrobial component. In our experience, this module was robust, reproducible, and cost-effective, suggesting that it could be implemented in diverse settings such as undergraduate research, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) camps, school programs, and laboratory training workshops. By providing valuable interdisciplinary research experience in science outreach and education initiatives, this module addresses the paucity of structured training or education programs that integrate diverse scientific fields. Its low-cost requirements make it especially suitable for use in resource-limited settings.

Collaboration across disciplines has played a pivotal role in understanding and advancing science. However, opportunities to gain interdisciplinary research experience continue to remain uncommon. We have developed a hands-on, experimental module that uses an interdisciplinary approach, combining biology experiments and a physics-based analytical model, to address a scientific problem. This module was first implemented at the Hands-on Research in Complex Systems School held at The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy from 29 June - 11 July 2014. In our experience, this module was robust, reproducible, resource-efficient, and cost-effective. These serve as favorable features in taking this module to diverse settings such as undergraduate research manifestos, STEM camps, school programs, and laboratory training workshops. Given the paucity of structured training or education programs that integrate diverse scientific fields, this module can provide valuable, interdisciplinary, research experience in science outreach and education initiatives.