​THE AUSTRALASIAN MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY

AMS Symposium snapshot: mycological madness in Wellington

By Eloise Martin: student and conference presenter

 

For the fungi fanatic, the experts and novices alike, the Australasian Mycological Society Symposium held last November in Wellington, New Zealand, was a rewarding, invigorating and enthralling experience. After a busy few day at the New Zealand Microbiology Conference, learning about our bacterial, viral and other microbial friends, we were treated to the grand fungal finale, a chance to delve into the world of mycology; from phylogeny to molecular work, plant pathology to animal diseases and even into fungal folklore, culture and history!

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The opening address was enthusiastically delivered by Allison Pouliot, a travelling fungal photographer who offered a fresh perspective into the allure of fungi, articulating the presence and emergence of the fungal ‘aesthetic’ and how it converges with science. Alison is author of The Allure of Fungi, co-author (with Tom May) of Wild Mushrooming, and her new book on fungi will be published in March 2023. Her background in science satisfyingly complements her fungal fanaticism, which has led her to the furthest reaches of our planet, in an effort to understand how cultures perceive, understand and treat fungi, and to capture the diverse beauty and overall allure of fungi.  She offered an in-depth exploration of the nexus between aesthetic and science, the role of popular science and where scientists such as ourselves fit into the picture. The 2022 AMS Symposium was a fully in-person event, but we were able to record Dr Alison Pouliot’s Plenary talk. You can access this recording on our YouTube Channel via this link: https://youtu.be/k3-HmhetWKY and you can find out more about Alison's adventures at www.alisonpouliot.com.

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​Following this we heard from a selection of keen mycologists, each with unique insights and specialities. The molecular session walked us through concepts of parallel evolution, non-coding RNA genes, quantitative systems and fungal diseases in New Zealand’s beloved kakapo, followed by a discussion on plant-fungi associations, including allelopathy, biocontrol and the role of fungi in improving soil carbon availability. Following this we learnt about various plant pathogens and the phylogeny of ectomycorrhizal species, as well as soil fungi in tussock grasses during the poster session.

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Running throughout the day was also the ‘silent auction’ which successfully raised substantial funds for our society whilst also supporting local creators and writers who donated prizes. The student prizes were then awarded, where I was extremely lucky to earn the Jack Warcup memorial prize, with Charlotte Pedly being awarded the American Society of Microbiology Prize, which includes a 2023 membership to the society!

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To cap of a wonderful day the team enjoyed a dinner at Wellington’s Thistle Inn, where we shared in many more enthusiastic discussions, accompanied by some delicious bites and some cheeky drinks (courtesy of our fungal friends).

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As a student preparing to embark on my future in mycology, research and science, I found the symposium to be incredibly valuable, both for learning, associating with experts and likeminded thinkers and gaining a passion for the field and my work. The symposium provided an opportunity to delve into the diversity, breadth, and depth of mycology. I eagerly await the field’s future and am utterly inspired by our community and our fascinating work in all aspects, crevices and niches of mycology. I also extend sincere thanks to the society for supporting my attendance at the conference, through the student travel grant, which was also awarded to students Aindreeya Alcova and Weixia Wang from the University of Melbourne. Encouraging enthusiasm and participation from students early-on is integral to building the future of science and research, and it is fantastic to receive such support from the society.

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