With National Fungi Day around the corner, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is hosting the launch of Planet Fungi: A Photographer’s Foray on Thursday 23 October at Melbourne Gardens. The event will be hosted by co-author and leading Australian fungi expert Dr Tom May, who will guide guests through the extraordinary world of fungi and their vital role in nature.
Planet Fungi features breathtaking photography by internationally acclaimed team Stephen Axford and Catherine Marciniak, capturing glowing mushrooms, alien-like forms, and newly discovered species from remote forests across Australasia, Asia and South America. The book highlights the essential contribution of fungi to ecosystem resilience, especially in the face of climate change, and reveals their deep interconnections with plants, animals and people.
Guests at the launch will enjoy an evening of drinks and canapés, hear directly from Dr May, and have their fungi questions answered. Books will also be available for purchase on the night and proceeds from this event support the critical role of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in understanding and safeguarding fungi and plants.
Dr Tom May has been a mycologist at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria for three decades. He has a distinguished research career and a passion for communicating and educating about fungi. Former President of Fungimap, he co-authored FunKey and Wild Mushrooming: A Guide for Foragers. Tom is a Fellow of the International Mycological Association and his contributions, spanning science and citizen science, have been recognised by award of the Nancy T. Burbidge Medal and the Australian Natural History Medallion.
