BAMS Meeting - Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Nathan Wilson
UC Berkeley, Genetics and Plantbiology Bldg. 103
Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 6:30-9:00 pm
Nathan Wilson presents Mycological Contributions through the Mushroom Observer Website. He will focus on the collaborative mushroom identification website, the Mushroom Observer, including a brief demo, and a discussion of the goals, purpose and philosophy behind the site. He will also talk about future plans for the site and its long-term role in the mycological community.
Nathan became interested in fungi when he was 10 years old. He has been an active in several mycological societies including the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz and the North American Mycological Association. Nathan is a photographer, artist, computer expert and an avid field mycologist. He earned his master's degree in computer science from UCSC, where his thesis was about using computers to identify biological species. His interest in computers has led him to create several mushroom related websites including one on taxonomic changes for mushroom field guides and, in collaboration with Elio Schaechter, A Mycological Voice From the Past, which celebrates an early work on Phallus by Hadrianus. His current project, the Mushroom Observer, is a participatory website where anyone interested in mushrooms can record their own observations of mushrooms, upload photos, get unknowns identified, help others identify unknowns and generally learn about mushrooms.