Online mycology 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