The Cereal Symbiosis lab are passionate about sharing the fascinating world of mycorrhizal symbiosis with the public. Through interactive events, educational workshops and collaborations with artists, they aim to spread awareness, excitement and information about this hidden but essential plant-fungal partnership
Public engagement events
The Cereal Symbiosis Lab regularly participates in outreach events in Cambridge and beyond, bringing the wonders of mycorrhizal relationships to diverse audiences. Some of the key events we have taken part in include The Cambridge Festival, Open Cambridge, NatHist Fest, LifeLab, Festival of Plants and Fungi Field Day.
At their outreach stalls, visitors can explore mycorrhizal fungi under microscopes, play symbiosis-themed games, colour in fungal networks, and engage in discussions with researchers. When the Cambridge Festival moved online during the COVID-19 pandemic, they developed The Adventures of a Friendly Fungus, an interactive game that allows players to experience the life cycle of a mycorrhizal fungus.
A major highlight in 2024 was co-organizing the inaugural Fungi Field Day at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden as part of UK Fungus Day. With around 1,000 visitors, the event featured microscopy sessions, guided fungi walks, expert talks, hands-on activities, and even mushroom face painting. The fungi discovered on the day have been compiled into an online Fungi Trail, curated by our lab member Jen McGaley and former-lab member Raphaella Hull (now at Cambridge University Botanic Garden).
Public talks and panels
Cereal Symbiosis researchers are always keen to talk about mycorrhiza, the lab’s research, and the role of this symbiosis in broader society. Recent talks and panel discussions include:
- Uncovering the Microscopic World of Mycorrhizal Fungi – Jen McGaley (Cambridge University Botanic Garden Science on Sundays series, 2024)
- Living Landmasses – Jen McGaley in discussion with artists and curators (Open Cambridge, 2021)
- Lovers: Discussion – Prof. Uta Paszkowski in conversation with artist Essi Kausalainen (Festival of Ideas, 2017)
School and community workshops
In partnership with the arts and wellbeing charity Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination (CCI), the Cereal Symbiosis Lab has delivered fungi-themed workshops to over 480 children across seven primary schools. These workshops combine science and creativity, featuring hands-on root sampling, microscopy and artscaping.
You can read about our workshop at Wilburton Primary School and access teaching resources here: What’s Happening Under Our Feet.
Other CCI collaborations include:
- Workshops at King’s College, Cambridge with Arbury Primary School and the Abbey People
- Rooted workshop at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and a related well-being walk trail
- The Imaginarium, part of the Cambridge Festival
- The Library Presents talk and workshop at Arbury Library
Art-science collaborations
The intricate and beautiful structures formed in mycorrhizal symbiosis have inspired a range of artistic collaborations. Some projects the Lab has contributed to include:
- Cambridge Meadows Installation project with Lilah Fowler
- Lovers project with Essi Kausalainen
- In Vivo project with Karel Doing
- Isle of Wight Biosphere Reserve project with Gemma Mallinson
Blogs, books and articles
As well as academic papers, the Cereal Symbiosis Lab contributes many public-facing publications to share knowledge about mycorrhizal fungi. Highlights include:
- Uta Paszkowski on soil symbionts and climate-smart agriculture
- Jen McGaley on art-science education in ‘The Curriculum Compendium’
- Raphaella Hull on mycorrhizal fungi in gardens and wildflower meadows
- Jen McGaley on overcoming plant and fungal blindness
- Jen McGaley and Uta Paszkowski on using research visuals in public engagement
You can follow the Lab’s activities on Bluesky @paszkowskilab.bsky.social
