A perspective on microbiology teaching supported by Pasteurian pedagogies as a significant contributor for timely delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined by the United Nations, will be presented. The SDGs include: (1) no poverty, (2) zero hunger, (3) good health and well-being, (4) quality education, (5) gender equality, (6) clean water and sanitation, (7) affordable and clean energy, (8) decent work and economic growth, (9) industry, innovation and infrastructure, (10) reducing inequality, (11) sustainable cities and communities, (12) responsible consumption and production, (13) climate action, (14) life below water, (15) life on land, (16) peace, justice and strong institutions, (17) partnerships for goals (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/).
Key roles of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in providing guidance in the path to sustainable futures through empowerment of citizen scholars as well as the importance of regional engagement by the HEIs in alignment with the OECD recommendations to bring out the innovative potential of their surrounding regions will also be highlighted. Pasteurian era concepts will be revisited when the ‘prepared minds’ played a key role. The role of “effective thinking” for microbiologically equipped “global citizens” who will participate in the timely delivery of the SDGs will also be discussed.