Fungi are wildly diverse in appearance and function.  Some fungi produce mushrooms – big, small, edible, or poisonous.  Some fungi are pathogens that cause serious disease in plants, animals, or humans.  Some fungi produce compounds that we consume or use as medicinal treatments.  Some fungi degrade wood.  Some fungi form underground networks that connect plants in a community.  To begin to illustrate this remarkable diversity, Dr. Robertson will introduce five (of the many) fungi that you might find in your backyard: Pheasant-back, Split-gill, Lion’s Mane, Green-spored Parasol, and Cedar-apple rust.

Laura Robertson is an Associate Professor in Biology at Shepherd University, where she teaches Microbiology, Mycology, and Fundamentals of Biology.  She has a Ph.D. in Biology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she used yeast as a model organism to understand fungal dimorphism; a M.S. in Genetics from the University of Georgia, where she studied asexual reproduction in fungi; and a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Georgia.  Before joining the faculty at Shepherd University, Laura was a Senior Editor for the Proteome Division of Incyte Genomics and a Research Geneticist at the USGS.  At Shepherd University, Laura works with undergraduate researchers to isolate, identify, and characterize local fungi.  In addition to her work as a biologist, Laura is an avid fabric artist who uses quilts to tell stories in biology.

Please contact Krista Hawley at AdultPrograms@PotomacAudubon.org or 681-252-1387 with any questions you may have.

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