🔬 DNA Barcoding for Fungi: A Hands-On Workshop for Citizen Scientists
Hosted at BioQuisitive in collaboration with MYCOmmunity | 15 spots only

Australia is a global hotspot for fungal diversity, with over 70% of the world’s endemic mushroom-forming species found here yet the vast majority remain unnamed or under-documented.

For non-mushroom-forming fungi, that number drops to just 5%. Mycology remains one of the few scientific fields where citizen scientists (like you!) play a leading role in discovery, but many species are difficult to identify without the help of DNA.

In this beginner-friendly, practical workshop, you’ll learn how to use DNA barcoding to support fungal identification and biodiversity research. Whether you’re a passionate fungi lover, a community scientist, or simply curious, this session will give you hands-on experience with the tools and techniques behind molecular mycology.

What you’ll learn:
✅ The theory behind DNA barcoding
✅ How to extract DNA from fungal samples
✅ PCR techniques and gel electrophoresis
✅ Intro to Sanger sequencing
✅ Pipetting techniques ("pipettiquette")
✅ Electronic lab notes using Benchling
✅ A light introduction to GenBank (and why fungal submissions are tricky)

We’ll also provide fungi-specific content, including videos and stories from the field, to ground the science in real-world practice and ecological relevance.

No lab experience necessary just a willingness to learn and a love for the fungal kingdom.