From beneficial yeasts that aid digestion to molds that cause serious infections, we are constantly navigating a world filled with fungi. Join us for a Science and Society lecture by Nicholas Money, whose new book, Molds, Mushrooms, and Medicines, explores the amazing ways in which our health and well-being are affected by fungi. Drawing on the latest advances in mycology, Dr. Money will discuss what scientists are learning about the human mycobiome, which is formed by a hidden universe of microscopic yeasts and molds that live in our bodies. He will also highlight the importance of fungal medicines, the controversial use of magic mushrooms to treat depression, and our wider dependence on the vital roles fungi play in nature.

Nicholas P. Money is professor of biology at Miami University in Ohio and the author of many books, including The Rise of Yeast: How the Sugar Fungus Shaped Civilization, which was featured in the 2018 History Book Festival in Lewes; Mushrooms: A Natural and Cultural History; and Microbiology: A Very Short Introduction.

We invite you to support the author by purchasing a copy of their book from Browseabout Books by clicking HERE. Call-in orders are accepted at (302) 226-2665 or you can stop by the store to purchase a copy. For store hours, please visit their website.

The library's “Science and Society - Making Sense of the World Around Us” lecture series is co-organized and moderated by Fred Dylla, Executive Director Emeritus of the American Institute of Physics and author of Scientific Journeys, Linda Dylla, former public information officer at the Jefferson Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy, and Colin Norman, the former News Editor at Science.

NOTE: this meeting is being conducted through Zoom. You MUST REGISTER to receive instructions for joining the meeting.

If you have need assistance with registration or getting your Zoom invitation, please email us.

Basic written instructions for using Zoom may be found here and a brief video tutorial may be found here. Closed captioning is available for all our sessions. Information on enabling closed captioning in Zoom may be found here.