Here comes the summer!  We celebrate June as slime mold month starting with our VIRTUAL MONTHLY MEETING! Mark your calendars and get ready to enjoy this slime mold edition of our monthly meeting via Zoom! 

We'll feature:

• Club welcome and Save the Dates by Vice-President Allen Perper
• Fungi in the News by Membership Chair, Tom Moore
• ID table using the observations on our iNaturalist project, by Founder of George Mason University's Mycology Club, Jennifer Fieffer
• From the ID Table to the Kitchen table by Culinary Chair, Cindy Connelly Ryan

• Featured presentation: The Miniature Marvels of Nature: Integrative Insights into the Biology, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics of Myxomycetes"
• Description: This presentation explores the hidden world of Myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds) a remarkable group of amoeboid protists often mistaken for fungi. We’ll examine their unique life cycles, ecological roles, and evolutionary relationships, with a focus on species diversity across Alabama’s southern forests. The session will highlight how molecular barcoding and microscopy are transforming modern taxonomy and biodiversity studies of these organisms. You’ll also learn about innovative K–12 STEM outreach initiatives developed at Tuskegee University that connect Myxomycete research to science education. We’ll conclude with insights on how studying these “miniature marvels of the forest” reveals broader patterns of ecology, evolution, and environmental change.
  

• Bio: Brogin Van Skoik is a Biologist, educator, and Ph.D. candidate at Tuskegee University, where his research focuses on the biodiversity, taxonomy, and molecular ecology of Myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds). Originally from upstate New York, he developed a passion for Myxomycetes and forest ecosystems through years of fieldwork and environmental education. His work bridges traditional taxonomy with molecular barcoding, uncovering hidden microbial diversity across Alabama’s southern forests. In addition to his research, he leads innovative STEM outreach and K–12 education programs that inspire young scientists to explore the microscopic world around them. Through his studies and teaching, he aims to celebrate the beauty, complexity, and ecological importance of these “miniature marvels” of the forest.

Zoom Link:

https://zoom.us/j/96693690911?pwd=YWdyeXh1bHF1N1UyNjNieFovNWFUZz09

Meeting ID 966 9369 0911

Passcode  330827

One Tap Mobile +13017158592,,96693690911#,,,,*330827# US (Washington DC)

Find your local Zoom access number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kQ9hr47WO