Outreach

Forest Fungi Project

The Forest Fungi Project launched was launched in 2015 by the Lankau lab in Plant Pathology department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The project is a community science initiative aimed to engage community members in ecological science to deepen their understanding of climate change impacts, the role of soil biota (living organisms) in healthy ecosystems, and the practicalities of scientific research and to achieve broad scale sampling.

We asked Forest Fungi Project scientists to walk out in the forest, identify tree species, collect roots and soils, and send to the University of Wisconsin. The data documents how microbial taxa are currently distributed across tree host ranges, and allow us to make predictions of future ranges of trees and microbes.

From 2015-2022, we have partner with > 1000 participants, providing root samples ~950 samples from 20 states. Forest Fungi Project Scientist included park volunteers, youth programs, secondary and college students, and Master Naturalists and via outreach to county and regional extension agents.

Our current research goals are to expand the project in sampling locations, target certain tree species that allign with research questions, disseminate information to participants, create more age-appropriate content and a online discussion format among participants and scientists.

Outreach events

We are particularly interested in getting children and young adults involved with ecologically. We focus on the tree-mycorrhizal fungi interactions. Our activities include: live fungi demonstrations with a focus on function, microscope use to view fungi in roots, “Are all microbes bad?”, “Microbes in Space”. We provide booths at science outreach events , demonstrations, and visit classrooms.