This month we have two academic visitors from Syria learning from Kishor and Adrian about molecular microbiology. Together with an MSc student from Indonesia, they tracked fecal pollution in the River Team, once known as “The Gut” by the locals, due to uncontrolled domestic and industrial wastewater discharges. It has now been considerably improved, but remains affected by stormwater overflows. The Syrian visits are supported by CARA, a charity that has supported academics and scientists at risk for more than 80 years.