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MYCOLOGIST NEWS 2nd Edition May 2018
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Dear Members, It gives me great pleasure to inform you that Norman Porrett is once again our office administrator. Norman will take care of the office administration from his home in Manchester but our official BMS office address remains as Charles Darwin House in London. This will significantly reduce office costs while maintaining a flexible service. Post addressed to Charles Darwin House will automatically be re-directed. Many of you will have had personal dealing with Norman in the past when he was previously administrator for several years and I am sure you will all welcome his return and wish him well. Our contact details are outlined below: Official postal address
British Mycological Society Charles Darwin House 12 Roger Street London WC1N 2JU Tel: 07426892421 Email addresses [email protected] – General enquiries [email protected] – Membership/Journal queries [email protected] – Newsletter items
Newsletter Contents 1. Office update
2. 13th Fungal Update meeting report
3. State of the World’s Fungi Symposium
4. Upcoming book
5. Science Solstice
6. Cryptomyces maximus
7. George Johnston
8. ECFG meeting report
9. Member News
10. Gilead Fellowship programme
11. Field Meetings and Workshops
12. Obituary
13. Contact details
Office update - Norman returns
BMS Autumn Open Meeting and Annual General Meeting
17th November 2018
Lady Lisa Sainsbury Lecture Theatre, Jodrell Laboratories Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
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The 13th Fungal Update Meeting took place on March 2nd and 3rd 2018 at the
Haberdashers Hall and the Great Hall at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. The
meeting attracted 192 registrations from all over the UK and a number of overseas
participants. This was even more impressive as the meeting occurred on the day that
London was hit with an unusual amount of snow. Despite this only 2 of our speakers
were unable to attend and a handful of delegates. The meeting had a diverse organising
committee covering haematology, microbiology and ID and the faculty this year
consisted of eminent overseas speakers from Europe, Asia and the United States. The
meeting covered 5 main areas: Antifungal Management in Haemato-Oncology-Real
World Implementation; Diagnostics and Therapeutics for Fungal Pathogens; A New
Dawn-Fungi and the host response and human disease; Generic Antifungals and Novel
Agents and finally Resistance and Global Issues. On Day 1 there was a concurrent
Imaging and Respiratory Infection Workshop which received very positive feedback
appealing to the radiologist and non-radiologist alike. On Day 2 there was a concurrent
Challenging Clinical Cases session that explored 3 cases in detail and allowed some
excellent debate on outcomes.
Professor Stuart Levitz, Professor of Medicine and Microbiology and Physiological
Systems at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, presented one of the
keynote lectures entitled “Immunity to Fungal Pathogens – What our patients are
teaching us”. With the dramatic increase in the population of immunosuppressed
persons susceptible to life-threatening fungal infections, Professor Levitz presented
immunological knowledge derived from mouse studies and human cohorts and
provided an overview of antifungal host defences. His talk complemented new data
presented on macrophage inhibition of TLR–BTK signalling and predisposition to
Aspergillus fumigatus infection (Dr D. Armstrong-James) and fungal suppression by
human γδ T-cells in mucosal immunity and inflammation (Dr N. McCarthy).
The meeting covered a diverse range of topics to appeal to all delegates with an interest
in systemic fungal infection in the immunocompromised host and important topics
such as the emergency of antifungal resistance were presented alongside the scientific
issues.
The feedback was excellent with one speaker noting that he found the meeting to be
“excellent and to have a unique ambience of professionalism and pragmatism - with a
positive outlook for the future in this area and the ability to make a difference to
patients”.
The organisers acknowledge and are very grateful for the sponsorship from British
Mycology Society which supported the presentation given by Professor Levitz.
Dr Samir Agrawal (Fungal Update Chair)
13th Fungal Update Meeting – St Bartholomew’s Hospital
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Join scientists and policymakers for our first ever two-day symposium on the State
of the World's Fungi. 13 &14 September 2018.
The symposium will be based around seven topical questions, with each session comprising talks from invited experts followed by a panel Q&A to discuss the emerging issues:
1. Conservation of fungi: what, why, where and how? 2. Does all plant life depend on fungi? 3. And have you forgotten the lichens? 4. Do fungi provide a greater ecosystem service or disservice? 5. Fungal networking – who benefits? 6. Panning for gold in the mould: where do we find commercial value in fungi? 7. Exploring the dark taxa: when does a molecular signature become a species?
Other highlights of the programme include:
Poster session and drinks reception – 13 September 2018 Symposium dinner (optional) – 13 September 2018
General registration deadline: 13 August 2018
Early bird registration deadline: Friday 8 June 2018
For more information, visit https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/state-of-the-worlds-fungi-symposium
State of the World’s Fungi Symposium – Royal Botanic Gardens,
Jodrell Laboratory, Kew, 13th–14th September 2018
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Although relatively little known, fungi provide the links and flows between the terrestrial organisms and ecosystems that underpin our functioning planet.
The Allure of Fungi presents fungi through multiple perspectives – those of mycologists and ecologists, foragers and forayers, naturalists and farmers, aesthetes and artists, philosophers and Traditional Owners. It explores how a history of entrenched fears and misconceptions about fungi has led to their near absence in Australian ecological consciousness and biodiversity conservation.
Through a combination of text and visual essays, the author reflects on how aesthetic, sensate experience deepened by scientific knowledge offers the best chance for understanding fungi, the forest and human interactions with them.
Features:
An interdisciplinary exploration of fungi, their ecological significance and
relationships with different cultures
Engaging personal anecdotes take readers on a journey of discovery into the
world of fungi and fungus enthusiasts
Evocative text and stunning macrophotography are combined in an amalgam of
history, science and art.
About the Author:
Alison Pouliot is a natural historian who is passionate about fungi. She moves between
northern and southern hemispheres to have two autumns each year, guaranteeing a
double dose of fungi. Her extraordinary photographs reflect her research on the ecology
and conservation of fungi. In this book she documents a forgotten corner of the natural
world that is both beguiling and fundamental to life.
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Publication Date: September 2018
Further information and pre-orders: http://www.publish.csiro.au/book/7790
Upcoming Book, The Allure of Fungi by Alison Pouliot
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For more information, visit https://www.isham2018.org/en/Home_10_6_12.html
On examining the branches of Salix in St Margaret’s
Hope, South Ronaldsay, Orkney in early April 2018 I
noticed what appeared to be black blisters with a
yellow surround which I suspected was the globally
rare Willow Blister Cryptomyces maximus. Samples
were sent to Dr Brian Douglas at the Lost and Found
Fungi Project at Kew who confirmed the anamorphic
stage of this species.
C. maximus has subsequently been recorded from
several other locations throughout mainland Orkney
usually on pruned or damaged Salix in damp
locations and where it does occur it is often
widespread. It would appear that Orkney is a
hotspot for this species which is only recorded from
a small handful of sites in Great Britain and Ireland
previously.
Lee Johnson
The Mycological Society of America (MSA), the International Mycological Association, the
Latin American Mycological Association (ALM), the Puerto Rican Mycological Society
(SPM), Universidad del Turabo and Meet Puerto Rico are proud to sponsor the 11th
International Mycological Congress in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This will be the first time
IMC is celebrated in Latin America and the Caribbean region, one of the circa 30
Cryptomyces maximus hotspot found in Orkney.
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biodiversity hotspots of the world. Puerto Rico is an ideal setting for a mycological
congress because our long history in mycology and our location in the subtropical
region offering a diversity of ecosystems (from dry to rain forests). San Juan, the capital
city, possesses a state of the art convention center, excellent hotels, cultural activities
and an amazing culinary experience. The Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport is a
main hub for different airlines receiving direct flights from major airports in the USA,
Europe, Central and South America. Come and enjoy IMC 11 in San Juan, Puerto Rico in
2018. http://imc11.com/
George Johnston was a surgeon and physician in Berwick-upon Tweed and was the
founder of the Berwickshire Naturalists and of the Ray Society. Although known
particularly for his work on marine invertetrates he also collected fungi many of which
he sent to M.J.Berkeley, Father of British Mycology. Berkeley named several species of
fungi after him and it was he who found Agaricus
(Omphalina) belliae – now Mycena, an unusual agaric
growing on submerged stems of reeds and fruiting at
the water-level. Last year was a particularly good year
for its fruiting near Duns. Although he was the author
of A Flora of Berwick upon-Tweed (1829) and The
Natural History of the Eastern Borders his herbarium
has never been found. However, in a tattered folder
found in the Herbarium of the Royal Botanic Garden
Edinburgh many of his fungal specimens have been
found (or refound!) and represent some very early
records of fungi both familiar and not so familiar.
They are now the subject of an assessment and study
the results of which will be published in the not too
distant future.
George Johnston, 1849 portrait by William Bonnar Roy Watling
For more information visit https://www.ukfungusday.co.uk/
George Johnston (1797 – 1855)
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The 14th European Conference on Fungal Genetics took place on February 25-28 in Haifa,
Israel. The conference attracted 423 delegates from 32 countries spanning the globe.
Over 40% of the attendees were postgraduate students or postdoctoral fellows.
Following an introductory key note lecture by Arturo Casadevall on the origin of fungal
virulence, the meeting was structured on the basis of a daily major plenary theme
followed by 4 parallel concurrent sessions over the duration of the conference. The first
plenary theme was Development שמג Cell Biology (sponsored by the BMS), followed by
Fungal Host Interactions. The third theme was Evolution and Molecular Ecology
(sponsored by Zymergen). Additional, and more specific aspects of fungal biology were
covered in the concurrent sessions. Participants were encouraged to submit abstracts
and these submissions were the basis for the 75 concurrent session talks and 240
poster presentations throughout the meeting. Over a dozen of the students presenting
posters were awarded prizes (sponsored by Elsevier).
The BMS-sponsored session was a delightful demonstration of how the analysis of
fungal genetics, physiology and microscopy can lead to major progress in
understanding the complexity of fungal cell biology and development. An elegant
example of this was provided by Dr. Alex Brand (Univ. of Aberdeen), who described the
remarkable sensing capabilities of Candida albicans, which can maintain a hyphal
budding trajectory even when obstacles are encountered.
Professor Sophien Kamoun of The John Innes Centre presented a keynote lecture on
achievements in elucidating the nature pathogen effectors and their interactions with
host proteins. While doing so, he also challenged Casadevall’s take on pathogen
evolution by suggesting that unlike animal pathogens, plant pathogens have not evolved
randomly, on the basis of the fact that they secrete effectors to modulate the plant host.
Prof. Neil Gow from the Univ. of Aberdeen emphasized the fungal threat to human
health and provided findings demonstrating that mannans can serve as a protective
shield for fungi.
In this day and age of highly specialized meetings, this conference provided a somewhat
broader platform for discussing fungal biology. Nonetheless, several parallel pre-
meeting workshops provided a venue for those interested in discussing organism-based
progress or other common research foci. As technology now increasingly bridges over
sub-disciplines of fungal biology research, the impression was that attendees enjoyed
the exposure to topics not necessarily at the “core” of their personal projects, obtained
ECFG 14 Meeting Report – Haifa, Israel
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new perspectives and found novel bases for interacting with other fungal researchers
with complementing expertise.
The topics were well selected and balanced. The local organizing committee made a
point of having the selected chairs of the various sessions involved in choosing the
speakers. Thus, all of the chairs were active contributors to the success of the meeting.
The ambience was informal and friendly and the combination of first class science,
open discussions among colleagues and the general atmosphere of the meeting
(including, perhaps, the excellent weather), made this conference a great success.
The meeting program and abstracts have all been posted at www.ecfg14.org
The organisers acknowledge and are very grateful for the sponsorship from British
Mycology Society which assisted in making this meeting as successful as it was.
Professors Oded Yarden and Benjamin Horwitz (ECFG14 Chairs)
If you have any reports, future meetings, member news or any other items of interest
please email to [email protected] Closing date August 10th 2018
Congratulations to Professor Neil Gow and Professor Nick Talbot following
appointments to new positions. Prof. Neil Gow has taken over as deputy Vice Chancellor
for Research and Impact at the University of Exeter while Professor Nick Talbot takes up
a new position as the new Executive Director at the Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich.
Dear members, a reminder that you should renew your membership for ASAP if you
have not already done so. Membership should be renewed online at
https://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/profile/subscriptions/
You will be asked to log in with your username (normally your email) and password. If
you cannot remember your password, follow the link to reset. Membership and journals
can be paid for by debit or credit card through Worldpay. Renewing online automatically
updates our membership database. Please also check your personal details and amend
and save any changes.
Membership renewal 2018
Items for the next newsletter
Member news
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Gilead UK & Ireland Fellowship Programme
Invasive fungal disease grant applications are now open
Gilead UK and Ireland is proud to support initiatives to improve patient care in the fields of HIV, viral hepatitis,
invasive fungal disease (IFD), cystic fibrosis and oncology/haematology.
The Gilead UK and Ireland Fellowship Programme aims to encourage the development, exploration and
dissemination of new ideas which generate and promote best practice in the delivery of patient-centred
care through innovative and reproducible models.
The IFD Fellowship will be open to applications that meet the following criteria:
Antifungal stewardship and/or audit projects which aim to improve patient care quality and safety by
investigating one or more of the following factors:
Antifungal resistance
Breakthrough fungal infections including incidence, risk factors, populations at risk and
management strategies
Optimisation of antifungal use and prevention of unnecessary exposure (potentially through
implementation or use of appropriate diagnostics and/or stringent protocol management)
Development of start and stop criteria for antifungal therapy
Appropriate sequencing of antifungals
Projects which fall outside of this scope but which will add clinical value or which investigate an area of unmet need within mycology can also be submitted and will be reviewed for their merit.
For further details and to apply for a grant please go to: www.gileadgiving.co.uk
J
www.gileadgiving.co.uk
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Fungal Photo Corner
For our Autumn event we are staying at the
Waterside holiday village in Cornwall. Situated
near Bodmin and being central it is ideally
situated to reach a good variety of sites. Pauline
Penna is our local organiser. Guest Mycologist -
to be confirmed.
The Cornwall group has recently recorded
several fungi new to Britain. The warm oceanic
climate of Cornwall will no doubt have plenty
more undiscovered new species of fungi just
sitting waiting for our visit.
Although we are staying in holiday lodges, we are not going to be self cater-ing. Our
accommodation will be ‘Full Board’ therefore they will be providing all meals including
breakfast. The lodges have twin and double rooms, all the rooms are either en-suite or
have an exclusive-use bathroom adjacent.
The workroom is apparently very large so they can accommodate a large group. If
people book early and there is extra demand it may be possible to book extra lodges,
however if left too late ay extra lodges might get snapped up by holiday makers,
therefore please book early.
Field meetings and workshops 2018
Autumn Study Week Venue: Waterside Holiday Village Venue website: www.watersidecornwall.com Tutor: Jens Petersen Dates: 8th to 15th Oct 2018 Accommodation: Cost: From £350 sharing
Have you taken a stunning image of fungi that you want to share? Big or small,
laboratory or field you could be the next to appear in ‘Fungi Photo Corner’. Send your
high-resolution images to [email protected] not forgetting to include as
much information as possible about what, where and when it was taken. Please note,
that in sending your photographs to us you are allowing the British Mycological Society
to include the image on our UK Fungus Day photo gallery (Images on the gallery are
covered under a license for Creative Commons Attribution (Non-Commercial-Share
Alike 2.0.) and to reproduce the image to appear in its printed and online versions of
Mycologist News’.
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BRITISH MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY FIELD MEETINGS 2018 - PLEASE READ THE SEPARATE DETAILS OF EVENTS BEFORE BOOKING All costs include the BMS member discount. (Non members + £30) Couples = one form only. Partners of members classed as members
Event: Autumn Fungal Recording & Study Week Waterside Centre, Old Coach Road, Lanivet, Cornwall, PL30 5JJ Monday 8th October to Monday 15th October 2018
Please book me onto this event: I enclose the £20 per person booking fee; non refundable unless a room is unavailable Accommodation - Tick one box only I will only accept a single occupancy room, (cancel if unavailable) @ £455 per week full board I prefer single occupancy (cost as above) but am prepared to share if single room unavailable To keep down the cost, I prefer to share a twin bedded room @ £350 per week full board
We are a couple and prefer a twin room or a double room @ £350 per week full board
Of the pre-booked rooms, sixteen rooms are en-suite and twelve rooms are not en-suite but they have an adjacent
bathroom. The en -suite rooms will be allocated on a first come first served basis. If the demand is high, it may be
possible to book extra lodges providing they are still available. Therefore early booking will help everyone.
Name(s) BMS Member
Address:
Home Phone: Mobile (emergency only)
Email:
Diet: Regular
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Other Please State:
I enclose deposits (£20 per person per event) making a total of £ and I understand that full payment is due when requested by the Field Events Manager. Deposits are non-refundable and final payments can only be refunded if a
replacement is found, therefore travel insurance should be considered. I have read the 'Risk Assessment' (on p. 3) and
agree to follow all the recommendations as far as is practicable.
Registered Charity: 276503 Signed................................................................................
Please make cheques payable to: 'The British Mycological Society'
Post to: Peter R Smith, BMS Field Events Manager, 16 White Street, Derby, DE22 1HA Email: [email protected]
BOOKING PROCEDURE AND GENERAL INFORMATION ON EVENTS
The programme of events arranged by the Field EventsManager and approved by the
Field Mycology Committee appear on the Society’s web site www.britmycolsoc.org.uk
along with a booking form and further details, these can be downloaded from the
website, There is a non-refundable booking fee of £20.00 per person, per event which
should be sent to the Foray Manager with a completed booking form for each
participant. For some events it is possible to attend on a part time basis or to be non
resident (please enquire) a fee for workroom space, administration and tutoring costs
will then be applicable.
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The Society welcomes non-members to its events but they are required to pay an extra
£30 per event attended. However for a similar cost, membership of the Society can be
obtained and you will then qualify for membership benefits and receive the newsletter.
The Field Events Manager will remind you for payment of the balance owing at the
appropriate time, usually no later than six weeks before the event. Please pay this
promptly to maintain your place on the event. Participants should consider travel
insurance to cover late cancellation. Final payment refunds may be possible, but only
if a substitute person is found.
Bookings will be acknowledged by email. If you do not have an email please enclose a
stamped, addressed envelope if you require acknowledgement. Early booking is
recommended to ensure a place on an event.
The booking form also allows you to indicate your preferences for accommodation in
more detail. The available accommodation varies with the venue and, whilst we would
like to try to meet everyone's individual needs, this may not always be possible.
Additional charges will usually apply for single rooms or en suite facilities depending on
venue prices. All rooms will be booked on a 'First Come, First Served' basis so to ensure
your choice of room type book early. If you are not able to attend due to there being no
rooms left that are suitable for your stated requirements your cheque will be returned
or a refund granted.
NOTES ON EVENTS
Workshops are usually held over a weekend, (Friday pm to Sunday pm) and are mainly
indoors and combine lectures and practical work. On fungal identification workshops a
microscope is essential. The BMS has a couple of microscope for use at workshops
however; please ask the Foray Manager if a microscope will be available before making a
booking. Fungal identification workshops may use both fresh and dried fungal
specimens as appropriate. In some cases, some outdoor foray activity may be part of
the workshop. Numbers are usually limited, and the courses are generally booked up
very quickly.
Residential Study Weeks; have a long tradition extending back to the 19th Century.
They provide an opportunity for participants to study the fungi of a particular area.
Each day there are field visits to record and collect material which are then studied
after returning to the workroom. . They provide an excellent opportunity for exchange
of knowledge on current developments in taxonomy and conservation within an
informal learning environment. . There is a general exchange of information, especially
during individual discussions around the 'Display Table' and sometimes in the bar,
this gives an opportunity for the less experienced mycologist to learn from their more
experiences colleagues.
At some events there may be an invited guest mycologist, and occasionally there will
also be a lecture or presentation. Usually at autumn events either the guest mycologist
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or other experienced mycologist will discuss the outstanding finds of the day around
the display table. The records of fungi made during BMS forays are added to the Fungal
Records Database of Britain and Ireland, which is then made accessible through the
online NBN gateway. As part of this recording activity, our study weeks also provide an
opportunity to add herbarium specimens to the National collections.
First time participants to a BMS event - The Society is keen to encourage new
participants with an interest in fungi to extend their expertise by participating in its
study weeks and workshops. Our events are suitable for mycologists at all levels of
ability,. However, anyone new to our 'BMS Events' should also be aware that our
'Recording & Study Weeks' differ from 'Local Forays' in that our members tend to collect
and work on their material individually rather than as a single group. Therefore, those
with some knowledge of using microscopes and fungi keys will benefit the most. One of
the most rewarding aspects of participating in our 'Recording & Study Weeks' is having
the opportunity to spend all your waking hours studying fungi with a very sociable and
helpful group of like-minded people, and without feeling guilty or being distracted by
your normal commitments to home and family. After a recent BMS 'Recording & Study
Week' a member new to these events sent us the following feedback: “The highlight of
the Foray for me was, without a doubt, the welcome and help that I received from
other participants. I was rather worried that I might not fit into a week with no
formal teaching but I actually had a fantastic time".
At some events BMS books may be available for use. Also if new members have not yet
purchased a microscope there may be an opportunity to use a society owned
microscope. If you would like to do so please contact the Field Events Manager
All participants are encouraged to bring any relevant literature and their own
microscopes. However, whilst the organisers will endeavour to keep forayer's
equipment as safe as is practicable, the society cannot be held accountable for any loss
or damage; therefore it is advised that participants ensure that all equipment they
bring is adequately insured.
Hope to see you on a BMS event soon: Peter R Smith, BMS Field Events Manager.
email: [email protected]
Planned events for 2019
SPRING RECORDING & STUDY WEEK 12th – 19th April Venue: Slapton Ley Field Studies Centre, Sands Road, Slapton, Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ7 2QP AUTUMN RECORDING & STUDY WEEK 19th – 26th October Venue: : L&A Outdoor Centre, Goytre, West Glamorgan, Wales, SA13 2YP
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GENERIC RISK ASSESSMENT FOR BMS FIELD EVENTS
While it is recognised that some members prefer to search is specialist habitats on their own, they
must accept the increased risks involved and should always carry a mobile phone with the Field
Events Manager and/or Local Organisers numbers, in case they get lost, encounter any
difficulties or have an accident.
Hazard How Most Likely Recommendations to minimise the risk
Likely Injury Tripping or slipping High Minor Wear strong boots and walk carefully. Avoid holes, tree roots and fallen
branches Hit by a falling tree V. Low Major Keep out of woods during high winds. Be aware of leaning or hung-up
trees and branches Walking into low Medium Minor Be observant for low branches branches
Getting stuck in mud Low Poss. Fatal Keep away from pond sides and bogs & carry a mobile
Drowning Low Fatal Keep well away from all open water Hit by a vehicle Medium Poss. Fatal Keep clear of all vehicles especially if reversing on the road
Contracting Medium Major Avoid dog faeces. Keep hands away from mouth and wash hands before
Toxicariasis eating
Contracting Low Major Avoid contact with open water or where rats may have been Keep hands
Leptospirosis away from mouth and wash hands before eating Contracting Low Major Immunisation - (see GP). Avoid injury. Keep any wounds covered, , Tetanus Wash hands.
Contracting Low Major Avoid areas where ticks may be present. Keep legs covered and check for
Lymes disease ticks after trip. If you are bitten by a tick followed by flu-like symptoms
contact your doctor Hypodermic needle Low Poss. Fatal Be observant, Keep hands away from anywhere that you cannot see. If stick Injury you suspect you have received a needle-stick injury; Make the wound
bleed, clean it. Then get a message to the leader and go straight to A&E
Getting Lost Low None Stay in groups, Carry a mobile phone, If you leave early please get a
message to the leader so we know you are safe and don't need to search for
you. Make a note of the Leaders mobile number. Attacked by a person V. Low Major Stay in groups, Carry a mobile phone or a dog Cut by a pen-knife Medium Minor Always cut away from body parts. Carry plasters:
Only carry a legal size pen-knife
Poisoned by fungi Low Poss. Fatal BMS Field Events are for the recording and study of fungi only. Please do
not collect any fungi for consumption on any BMS event.
Ingesting bacteria Medium Minor Avoid handling any rotting fungi or any other putrid material. Keep causing stomach hands away from the mouth and wash hands before eating or smoking
pains or diarrhoea Tripping over in the Low Minor Keep walkways clear and be observant workroom
Caustic or toxic reactions Low Minor Treat all chemicals with respect and handle carefully. Clean up any spills
from chemical reagents straight away and if skin gets contaminated wash of skin immediately
Page | 16
Dr Geoffrey David Robson
6 September 1962 – 15 May 2018
It is with extreme sadness that we report the sudden and untimely death of Geoff Robson on 15 May 2018. Geoff was a long serving member of the British Mycological Society which he served with distinction, notably as General Secretary over many years, and was President (2013-4). His prodigious contribution to the health and wellbeing of the BMS cannot be overstated and he had a pivotal role in many important decisions and transformations within the society, as well as taking care of the myriad of duties arising from his role as Secretary. His outstanding contribution to the Society was recognised by the award of the Benefactors Medal of the British Mycological Society in 2015. Geoff also had a very close involvement with the International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation Society (IBBS) over many years which he also served as Council member (2008-12) and President (2012-4) and organized and participated in many scientific meetings, many being a perfect fit for Geoff’s interests in fungal biodeterioration. As Geoff’s close friends and colleagues will testify, Geoff brought an unflappable charm and reassuring confidence to committee meetings and the like, despite often having to deal with quite difficult issues while maintaining harmony among the disparate personalities characteristic of scientific communities. In this he succeeded quite admirably, and was held in great respect by all who knew him and worked with him. He was kind and generous, meticulous in organization, and regularly shouldered tasks above and beyond the call of duty, all without complaint or rancour. I was privileged to have a very close relationship with Geoff because of our significant BMS duties, and he was an unfailing source of help, advice and humour when needed.
Geoff was born in Huddersfield and obtained a first-class Honours degree in Botany and Biochemistry at the University of Salford in 1984. He obtained his PhD in 1987 at the University of Manchester, supervised by Professor A.P.J. Trinci, and remained in Manchester for the rest of his academic career, becoming a postdoctoral research associate, lecturer and senior lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences. Geoff was interested in several applied aspects of fungal growth, morphology and physiology. Early research in the Trinci lab explored several aspects of fungal growth and morphogenesis, and he had a significant involvement in the development of Quorn mycoprotein that now is of course standard fare in the British diet. During this time, Geoff was a co-inventor on several patents relating to fungal food biotechnology, while other fundamental research explored some of the biochemical mechanisms underlying growth and branching in filamentous fungi. In fact, he received the Berkeley Award of the British Mycological Society in 1994 for his “outstanding and original contribution to mycology by a young scientist” based on this research. More recently he was particularly interested in the role of extracellular phospholipases in the pathogenicity of the human opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus, and the colonization, biodeterioration and composting of man-made materials including plastics. This latter topic proved highly productive and the work received significant exposure in the literature, Geoff pioneering several modern molecular approaches to study the fungal communities involved in degradation of substances like polylactic acid, polyurethane and PVC.
OBITUARY
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Geoff was a regular invited speaker at national and international conferences, and I shared a
platform with him many times in several different countries! One memorable occasion in the
Philippines several years ago, it took us nearly an hour and a half to leave the lecture theatre
as we were besieged by scores of students wanting selfies and group photos. One tiring
professor there gloomily told us we would be on at least 200 Facebook sites by the evening!
Geoff loved to travel overseas, greatly enjoying his regular holiday cruises with Amanda and
trips through his work, generally preferring countries hotter and drier than the UK, and with
better food! Over several years he developed close research links with several universities in
Thailand, notably Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, and hosted several Thai PhD
students back in Manchester. With tragic irony, he was engaged in setting up a student
exchange programme with Nakhon Phanom University the day before he died. He also had
close links in China, such as Jilin Agricultural University, and the Philippines, Central Luzon
State University, where an ex-PhD student of Geoff’s, Evaristo Abella, is now the Dean of the
College of Arts and Sciences. Through the Asian connections, Geoff developed his love of
oriental food and a robust resistance to hot chillies and enjoyed replicating some of the Thai
dishes back in Manchester, yellow fermented soy paste being one of his tricks for an
authentic taste. Geoff also had connections with several other countries such as Saudi
Arabia, Malaysia, and Pakistan, many arising from the international nature of his research
group. Geoff attracted postgraduate students to his lab from countries all round the world and
was a great believer in internationalism, scientific freedom and communication. He was a
devoted and caring supervisor of over 50 postgraduate students, and many of these have
attained responsible scientific positions in their home countries. Geoff published over 150
refereed papers and over 20 invited book chapters and reviews, and was co-editor of several
books notably the 21st Century Guidebook to Fungi (2011) with David Moore and Tony Trinci,
and the BMS Symposium volumes The Fungal Colony (1999) with Neil Gow and myself, and
Exploitation of Fungi (2007) with myself, Neil Gow and Pieter van West. He was also a
published poet.
Geoff served the wider microbiological community in many ways, but always as an
ambassador for fungal biology. As well as conference organization, external examining and
committee work, he was co-editor-in-chief of Fungal Biology Reviews (from 2009) and a co-
founder and director of Fungal Biology Limited. He also acted as Secretary General of the
International Mycological Association (a Division of the International Union of Biological
Sciences) (2006-2010); Steering Committee member for the 9th and 10th International
Mycological Congresses (2008-2014); and Council member of the Federation of European
Microbiological Societies (2014- ). He also served on the Eukaryotic Microbiology Division of
the Society for General Microbiology (now Microbiology Society) (2008-10) and several
editorial boards including FEMS Microbiology Ecology, Mycological Research (now Fungal
Biology), and Applied and Environmental Microbiology. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society
for Biology (FRSB) and Visiting Professor, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
(2015-6).
Geoff is survived by his wife Amanda, son James, daughter-in-law Katrina, and grand-
daughter Ava. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues both in the UK
and around the world.
Geoff Gadd Geomicrobiology Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH
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