Overview: Beyond the naked eye lies a universe of chaos, beauty, and hidden potential. Are you ready to decode it? The Petri Dish Challenge invites budding microbiologists to identify an unknown bacterial culture using standard microbiological techniques. Participants will explore bacterial isolation and culture, Gram staining, biochemical tests and antibiotic susceptibility testing. They must analyse experimental data, draw scientific conclusions and present their findings clearly. The event consists of an online quiz round followed by an offline laboratory round at IIT Madras. Participants will be shortlisted for the final round based on their performance in the online round.
Students interested in: Microbiology and microbial identification Biotechnology and biomedical sciences Wet-lab techniques, bacterial culture and biochemical analysis Experimental reasoning and scientific interpretation
Eligibility: Undergraduate and postgraduate students from all disciplines, including engineering, science, medical, arts, commerce, management and law.
Unstop Format: Online quiz covering biotechnology, microbiology and microbiology laboratory techniques
Structure: Approximately 30–40 questions
Dates: December 12-13,2026 Participants must attempt at least one quiz to be considered for qualification to the offline final round.
Final Round: Offline at IIT
Madras Location: UG Labs, IIT
Madras Dates: January 4–5, 2027 Participants will receive an unknown bacterial sample and conduct laboratory investigations, including: Staining and cell morphology, including cotton blue staining Cell count and viable cell determination Antibiotic susceptibility testing and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) Lactose fermentation and extracellular enzyme activity/synthesis Motility testing and biochemical characterisation The final round includes hands-on experiments, lab report preparation, live presentations and a viva.
Evaluation Criteria: Selection and execution of appropriate laboratory tests Accuracy of observations, recordings and interpretation Scientific reasoning and evidence supporting bacterial identification Quality and clarity of the lab report and presentation Performance during the viva examination
Venue
IIT Madras
Chennai, India