Entertainment-influenced and generation-aligned engaging activities are used to enhance discovery and promote both enquiry and reflective-based learning. Rote-learning based environmental microbiology topics with simplistic laboratory methods have been transformed by the introduction of forensics and tutorial activities aptly named ‘celebrity microbes’ to explore concepts in the world of environmental microbiology. Outcomes show an increased proficiency in analytical skills, in the development of pertinent questioning, in communication and team work.