The Past and Future of Mushrooms

This class is an introduction to the incredible world of mushrooms, from the role of fungi historically as the first micro-cell organisms on land to the future role of mushrooms and mushroom mycelium for solving problems such as food scarcity, construction materials, robotics, natural pesticides, and industrial clean-up. We will discuss mushroom biology and reproduction; historical interaction between people and mushrooms; the nutritional and health benefits of mushrooms; and strategies for mushroom foraging. We will also talk about the most common mushrooms for cooking, their tastes, and their health benefits.