Dr. Walker will talk about the origins of his Fascinated By Fungi accounts, go over the basics of fungal biology, and delve deep into incredible diversity of fungal life forms that make life on this planet possible.
Biography:
Originally from Cambridge, MA, Dr. Gordon Walker moved to California to attend UC Santa Cruz where he developed a passion for scuba diving and home brewing. His interest in yeast and fermentation inspired him to attend UC Davis for graduate school where his doctoral research focused on the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in wine production. Specifically his research focused on yeast physiology and metabolism as it related to fermentation ecology.
After finishing his PhD, Gordon spent time in New Zealand where he rekindled a childhood interest in mushrooms and began posting pictures of his finds to social media. His @fascinatedbyfungi account is an educational account that delves into the biology, chemistry, and ecology of mushrooms as well as the culinary and cultural practices surrounding them.
Gordon has previously worked at Opus One Winery, in Biotechnology Sales, and completed a post-doc with Dr. Ron Runnebaum at UC Davis where he worked to help revolutionize wine making practices around the world. Currently he is a signed author with Penguin Random House and is working on a book about mushrooms. Besides his obsession with fungi, he enjoys gardening, cooking for friends, and cats.
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The Mycological Society of San Francisco has been hosting 1 or 2 Fungus Fairs each year since 1969. Fairs have been held in San Francisco County, Alameda County, San Mateo County, and Marin County. Historical information is available about previous Fungus Fairs: