Faculty members Megan McCaghey and Bob Blanchette have once again teamed up with the UMN School of Public Health’s Carolyn Porta to offer “Fungi ‘Magic’: An Exploration of Historic and Current Roles of Mushrooms in Health and Preventing Diseases of Humans, Animals, Plants, and the Environment.”
This course brought widely applicable mycology information and hands-on samples and experiences to those participating in the UMN 2024 SPH Public Health Institute. Over one day, participants got the combination of a classroom learning and discussion session with a lab session that included free exploration of fungal samples as well as a lab exercise led by McCaghey.
While discussions of fungi are often relegated to ag and forestry courses, the “Fungi ‘Magic’” course brings the human implications of fungi to the forefront, from their medicinal and nutritional functions to their potential future roles in the health of humans, animals, and the environment.
