Mushrooms and mycology online courses

This online course will cover the fundamentals of mycology, identifying and cultivating fungi, human uses for fungi and land managment with fungi. The course will be available in modules for people who only want to take part of the course; everyone who attends any part of the course will have access to the pathways in mycology module. Classes will be live and recorded for people to re-watch later. There are limited placers and these prices are a one-time offer as it is the first time we are running the course. Discounted practical sessions in identification, cultivation and lab techniques will also be available depending on interest and COVID safety. 

We are running the course  together with our partner organisation MYCOmmunity Applied Mycology (www.myco.org.au) which is a community group that does awareness-raising, training and research around fungi.

 

Mycology 101 - 12 hours, 6 weeks

This course covers the fundamental aspects of mycology 

• Fundamentals of biology including cell structure and introduction to genetics and evolution
• Fungal diversity and different types of fungi
• How to identify fungi
• How fungi interact with other organisms and roles of fungi in the ecosystem
• Biosecurity including field hygiene and managing invasive species
• Guest speaker

 

Human uses for fungi and growing fungi - 8 hours, 4 weeks

This course will cover human uses for fungi including

• Mushroom cultivation 
• Growing mushrooms at home and setting up your own lab
• Safe and ethical foraging
• Fungi in brewing
• Fungi in medicine
• Fungi in culture and history
• Emerging industries such as myco-materials

 

Fungal conservation, land-management and citizen science - 8 hours, 4 weeks

This is a more advanced course focussing on fungi in the environment and how you can contribute as a citizen scientist

• Endangered fungi and fungal conservation
• How citizen scientists can contribute to fungal conservation
• How to survey fungi for scientific purposes
• Re-introducing fungi to the environment
• Biosecurity and invasive species management
• Fungi in land management and agriculture
• Using DNA technology
• DIY science and setting up your own lab

 

Pathways into mycology - 6 hours, 2 weeks

This course includes a 2 hour online session and a 4 hour field trip. It includes:

• Further education pathways
• Getting jobs in land management and agriculture
• Starting your own business
• Getting involved in voluntary groups
• Field trip to Fed Uni horticulture department
• Edible mushrooms foray