Lifeforms display amazing diversity but evolutionary theory also tells us that they are all connected. Martin Robert is fascinated by the universal properties that most, if not all, living organisms share. Much of his research has focused on bacterial metabolic function although he has broad interests, including complex systems and social science. For him, studying the growth and metabolism of bacteria uncovered sometimes unexpected and hidden lessons from which we may find inspiration. In this thought-provoking presentation we learn that bacterial cells are also part of a micro-economic system where growth, cellular activity and interactions between cells produce complex dynamical structures and phenomena that are not unlike those in our own societies. Martin Robert is an Associate professor at Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences in University of Kyoto. He holds a Ph.D degree (1996) in the field of biochemistry from McGill University. His research includes cellular aging, immune signals, bacterial metabolism, protein analysis among others. The bacterial world is mostly hidden from us but plays an important role in the ecosystem. Even so, human knowledge on the subject is only the tip of the iceberg. This is what drives Martin to dig deeper. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx