Understanding Life as a fungus - Disentangling the life of fungi

Talk of Dr. Carlos A. Aguilar-Trigueros, Univeristy of Jyväskylä, Research Visiting Fellow at SynoSys

Why do we need to know about fungi? Fungi are all around us, especially in the soil, where they quietly shape the very ground that feeds us. But until recently, what they were doing down there was a bit of a mystery. Soil is like a black box: complex, messy, and hard to observe. Now, thanks to a mix of photography, computer modeling, and data visualization, we’re starting to open that box. And what we’re finding is extraordinary: a hidden world of fungal networks with an incredible variety of shapes and forms, each helping to build healthy, living soil. This talk will explore the diversity of these silent soil-dwellers and why understanding this fungal diversity is essential for the future of our food and our planet.