A soft landing to Substack, Hello! ❤️
This is Mycological Memories, a project exploring the cultural, ecological, and mythological roles fungi play across the world.
Hello, My name is Róisín.
I have just joined Substack and I can’t wait to share the diverse world of Fungi with you.
Mycological Memories
Mycological Memories began as a way to deepen my own learning. I want to make the fascinating world of fungi approachable to more people and break down the barriers to understanding these often-overlooked organisms. I’ve been inspired to share the cultural, ecological, and scientific stories fungi hold. These are tales of their interactions with humans, nature, and mythology.
It’s not a comprehensive guide to mushrooms but a journey through specific stories, experiences and concepts, offering a relaxed yet educational read. By combining local and indigenous knowledge with academic research, I hope to highlight the significance of the fungal kingdom and share the forgotten stories of fungi. This idea has morphed into a dream to write an ongoing exploration of fungi’s influence on us, uncovering and curating stories and knowledge about fungi that I uncover while traveling full-time.
Community
People are the heart of Mycological Memories aim. This project isn’t just about fungi, it’s about people and their experiences with them. The way we understand mushrooms isn’t just found in books or research papers, it’s everywhere, in stories, traditions, and personal encounters. Everyone has a different relationship with fungi, and by gathering voices from all sorts of people, we can build a more complex picture of our mycological world. While researching for Mycological Memories, I have been blessed to meet incredible people from all walks of life. It has whole heartedly been the best part of this journey so far.
I am always open to meeting like minded people, so where ever you are - feel free to drop me a message for a chat, or a foray if we are in the same location.
The story so far
Since beginning this project, I have been astonished by where it has lead me. I have been so lucky to travel to many places and meet inspiring people willing to share their story and how fungi has influenced their lives. From the volcanic slopes of Indonesia, the tropical jungles of Thailand and the snow-capped mountains of Yunnan, China - I have met fungi in more ways than I imagined possible. Hearing the lost stories of fungi either online through my survey, or in person on wild walks through the woods has been beautifully insightful. Until now, my work was shared on instagram and via my personal website, but I hope substack will become a new home for my explorations.
I’ve migrated some previous posts to substack, which you can read here:
A lil’ about me
I’m from Ireland, where my love for the natural world started. I’ve always loved nature, forests and exploring biology through textbooks. Along the way, I found fungi, the mysterious, ephemeral organisms thriving in our forests and fields. Captivated by their world, I’ve been on a journey of discovery ever since!
My story with fungi began as a self-taught endeavour, immersing myself in field guides, mycology literature, and forest forays that served as my classroom. This passion was further enriched through academia, earning a BSc. in Biotechnology from University College Cork in 2020 and an MSc. in Precision Medicine from the University of Glasgow in 2021.
In 2022, I joined Rhizocore Technologies, a fungal-focused startup, where I gained hands-on experience in diverse areas such as field and laboratory mycology, eDNA analysis, mycoremediation, and fungal bioproduction. This role not only allowed me to merge my professional expertise with my love for fungi but also brought me many incredible opportunities to deepen my knowledge and explore mushrooms in many diverse regions. Now, I am in a new phase of my journey, traveling full-time while self-directing my research.
Feel free to fill out our Mushroom Survey - There is so much to learn about mushrooms and our experiences with them. This survey is your chance to share your thoughts, experiences, and love (or hate!) for mushrooms, and how they have popped up in your life.
Thank you for your support as I figure this new platform out, it is hugely appreciated. Also, don’t be shy, say hi! My inbox is always open 💌
Róisín xx
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A round up email, once a month
Once a month, I will send a round-up email of all my most recent stories. That way you can read all my work and find it in one condensed place.
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I found my way to fungi via foraging. I'm self-taught as well, and have learned a section of the woods near me pretty well. It's always fun to discover a new spot or something you haven't come across before. My knowledge is limited to a good handful of mushrooms, and I'm excited to learn more as you post.
It’s so warming to see people introducing themselves and their mission ❤️