Fungi as Food, Medicine and More (Spring Course)

6 Tuesdays from April 7 - May 12, 2026, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Location: This course meets at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, located at 100 N. 20th Street in Philadelphia.

This course requires pre-registration. Separate registration is required for each student. Sign up here or call 215-763-6529 x14 for assistance.

What makes one mushroom edible and another poisonous, and why are they like this? How have humans utilized fungi for medicine, both naturally throughout history and pharmaceutically in modern times? And what’s up with psychedelic mushrooms? These questions and more will be answered in this six-week lecture series focused on all the ways in which humans interact with fungi as food and medicine.

1. Tuesday, April 7, 2026 – Introduction to Fungi and Mycophagy

Introduction to fungi, primary and secondary metabolism, and animal consumption of fungi.

2. Tuesday, April 14, 2026 – Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms

Cultivated and wild mushrooms and their ecology; poisonous mushrooms and mycotoxins.

3. Tuesday, April 21, 2026 – Fungal Ferments: Yeasts and Molds

Ways in which fungi transform food, for better or worse; fermentation as controlled spoilage.

4. Tuesday, April 28, 2026 – Medicinal Mushrooms

Ethnomycology; separating fact from fiction and embracing uncertainty.

5. Tuesday, May 5, 2026 – Fungus-derived Drugs

Penicillin; cyclosporine, lovastatins, and other fungal natural products.

6. Tuesday, May 12, 2026 – Psychedelic Mushrooms

Psilocybin and the burgeoning field of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

All course content will be made available to students via Google Drive.

1. Lectures: Lectures will be 50-minutes long. The remaining time will be used for questions and general discussion. The presentation slides will be uploaded to Google Drive after each class.

2. Lecture notes: Handouts outlining the lecture material will be provided in class for students to follow along and write notes.

3. Readings: Readings consist of primary literature and popular science articles and are optional. They are provided to enhance your understanding of the lecture material. I recommend reading the abstract even if you are unable to read the entire article. PDFs of the readings are available via Google Drive.

This is non-credit course and students are not evaluated for their comprehension of the material. However, it is recommended that students attend the entire series as lecture content will build off previous weeks. In addition, students can qualify for an optional certificate through the Wagner Free Institute of Science.

Alden Dirks (they/them) became enamored with mushrooms during their meanderings in the woods, prompting them to begin a career in mycology research and teaching ten years ago. They went on to complete an MS in Agroecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2019 and a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Michigan in 2024. Dirks currently works at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia conducting fungal genomics research on invasive fungal infections of immunocompromised children. Their research interests include fungal taxonomy and the evolution of mycotoxins in mushrooms, primarily focused on lorchels (also known as false morels) and crust fungi (see crustfungi.com). Dirks is also an avid forager with the lifelong goal of eating 1001 species. As an ambassador for the Kingdom Fungi, they teach the public about mycology through mushroom forays, workshops, and lectures, exposing students to the lesser known and underappreciated fungi that make up most of the kingdom. Dr. Dirks joined the Wagner faculty in 2025.

What is the cost?

Wagner courses are free; donations are encouraged!

Are there minimum age requirements to enter the course?

The adult lecture courses are offered on an introductory college level. They are open to anyone seeking an introduction to various areas of the sciences as well as those familiar with the subjects who wish to broaden and update their knowledge. The courses also provide an excellent opportunity for motivated junior high and high school students to supplement their current science courses and to help prepare them for further study in these fields at a college level. The courses are appropriate as well for teachers seeking to expand their knowledge.

What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the course?

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is located at the northwest corner of 20th and Arch Streets in Center City. It is convenient to multiple public transportation routes. The closest trolley stop is at 22nd and Market Streets. The location is also accessible via multiple bus routes and regional rail lines. There is on-street parking on the surrounding blocks, and multiple paid parking options, including a lot at 19th and Arch Streets.

Is the building wheelchair accessible?

Yes

How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Click the "Contact the Organizer" link, email [email protected], or call 215-763-6529 x14.

Images: McIlvaine, Charles, and Robert K. Macadam. 1902. Toadstools, Mushrooms, Fungi, Edible and Poisonous; One Thousand American Fungi. Indianapolis: The Bowen-Merrill Company. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1270221.

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