Who we are

In the UK and Ireland, there is no clear, dedicated pathway into mycology. Most people find their way into fungi through winding routes, from ecology and cultivation to art, folklore, and design. That diversity is part of what makes the field so rich, but it can also feel fragmented and hard to navigate. The Culturing Dish was created to change that.

We’re a grassroots network for early-career mycologists and mycofolk, aiming to connect people within their first decade of practice. Our role is to hold space where knowledge is shared openly rather than locked away, where practical and creative skills can spread like mycelium, and where opportunities, from funding support to collaborations, can circulate fairly.

At its heart, the Dish is about people finding each other. Whether in the lab, the field, or the studio, we believe fungi thrive best when their networks are strong, and so do we.