LEARN SKILLS – CONTRIBUTE DATA
Citizen Science at the RMC
Rad Mycoblitz
Find mushrooms and contribute to citizen science!
A mycoblitz aims to identify and document all of the macro fungi (mushrooms) encountered at site within a short period of time.
The Rad MycoBlitz is the RMC’s take on this important contribution to citizen science, with attendees bringing the collections found on Brown Bottle Farm to the centrally-located Blitz Tent for identification and processing.
Led by Graham Steinruck and with the support of Allison Nishitani from MiniPCR, this RMC-long science zone is a great place to stop by to learn and observe.
During the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday lunch hour, Graham, Allison, and their team of volunteers will help identify the collections and also prepare specimens for genetic sequencing. Allison will demonstrate MiniPCR’s tools and attendees will be able to get up close with the often-intimidating science side of mycology.
After the RMC, all of the samples will be sequenced, with all metadata documented at the RMC iNaturalist archive.
All of this documentation aids in the global understanding of the distribution and fruiting patterns of the encountered mushrooms.
Clone Zone
Located next to the Rad MycoBlitz station, the Clone Zone is where you can try your hand at tissue cloning – a central skill in the cultivation of mushrooms and the preservation of native fungi.
A portable flow hood and essential equipment will be available for experimenting. A limited number of sterile blanks plates will be available for attendees to take home after their cloning attempt. Experienced cultivators are welcome to bring their own sterile media containers for personal use or to donate to the Zone.
