Annual Scientific Meeting 2025

14 - 17 July 2025, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey

The Student Research Conference takes place in the afternoon of Monday 14 July and morning of Tuesday 15 July, before the main meeting starts.  This one-day conference provides postgradute students with the opportunity to meet fellow students and senior researchers, share ideas and research updates and listen to career-focused talks from invited speakers.

The main meeting, from the afternoon of Tuesday 15 to Thursday 17 July, will feature talks from renowned, international researchers covering an exciting and broad range of mycological topics.

Poster presentations will showcase the latest research and social events throughout the meeting will enable participants to catch up with colleagues, make new contacts and enjoy the conference location!

This conference will also include a half day visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, including exclusive small-group tours of the Fungarium.

Programme

Confirmed speakers:

Reconciling the rusts and the consequences of a complex life cycle
Mary Catherine (Cathie) Aime, Purdue University, USA

Martine Bassilana, Université Côte d'Azur, France

Fungal Life Aquatic
Michael Cunliffe, University of Plymouth and Marine Biological Association, UK

Gene loss and evolutionary divergence in lipid biosynthesis and DNA repair pathways of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Alexandra Dallaire, RIKEN-Cambridge Joint Crop Symbiosis Research Team and RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Japan

Understanding interactions between plants and microbes, the role of mycorrhizal symbionts
Timothy George, The James Hutton Institute, UK

Adaptation of Candida albicans to the human host
Rebecca Hall, University of Kent, UK

Exploring the Basis of Cell Cycle-Associated Development to Understand Disease Caused by the Rice Blast Fungus Magnaporthe oryzae
Miriam Oses-Ruiz, University of Navarre, Spain

Fungal adaptation in the Anthropocene: optimism and obstacles
Johanna Rhodes, University of Birmingham, UK

The Botryosphaeriaceae in a changing world
Bernard Slippers, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Fungal Community Ecology
John Taylor, University of California at Berkeley, USA

Abstracts

Abstracts are requested for presentation by talk or poster, for both the Student Research Conference (for postgraduate students only) and for the Annual Scientiifc Meeting. These can be on any mycological research theme.

• Student talks at the Student Research Conference are 10 minutes, and posters will be viewed during breaks and lunch.
• At the Annual Scientific Meeting, offered talks are 15 minutes, and posters will be presented during dedicated poster sessions plus in 2 minute 'flash talks'.
• Use the abstract template to format your abstract, maximum 300 words. Submit your abstract here. Indicate whether your abstract is for presentation at the Student Research Conference, the Annual Scientific Meeting, or both.
• Deadline for abstracts: 28 February 2025.
• Presenting authors deadline to register: 30 April 2025.

If you aren't able to use the Google Form to submit your abstract, please email it to sally@britmycolsoc.info, using the abstract template to format your abstract, and include the following information in your email:

• Name of presenting author 
• Email of presenting author 
• Preferred presentation method 
• Where do you want to present your work – Student Research Conference (for postgraduate students only), Annual Scientific Meeting, or both.

Student Research Conference

14-15 July 2025

Taking place ahead of the main meeting, the Student Research Conference offers the ideal introductory event for postgraduate students to get together, present their research, share ideas with peers and senior researchers, and hear about some useful skills for life after the PhD.

How much does it cost?

Free for BMS Postgraduate Members (£30 for Non-members), including overnight accommodation and social event on Monday 14 July. 

Social programme

• Tuesday 15 July - Welcome buffet, drinks and networking.
• Wednesday 16 July - Half day visit the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, including tours of the Fungarium.
• Wednesday 16 July - BMS Conference Dinner and Auction in the Founders Dining Hall at Royal Holloway.
  
  

Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

When you register for the Annual Scientific Meeting, make sure you also book onto the visit to Kew Gardens. There are limited spaces and a small fee applies.

During this afternoon session at Kew, attendees will receive a guided tour of the Fungarium and hear about the Fungarium Sequencing Project, an ambitious initiative to obtain the whole genome sequences of Kew’s reference species collection, funded by the UK government's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. There will also be time to meet the Kew mycology team and enjoy a picnic in the gardens! 

The Fungarium at Kew Gardens is the world’s largest collection of fungal specimens, holding over 1.25 million samples from across the globe. This historic collection, which dates back to 1879, is a cornerstone for mycological research, offering valuable insights into the taxonomy, biodiversity, and ecological roles of fungi. It provides a reference library of fungal species, enabling scientists to classify and understand fungal evolution and distribution. This collection is crucial for both scientific and practical applications. By preserving fungal biodiversity, the Fungarium supports essential research into fungi's role in ecosystems, including decomposition, plant health, and potential biotechnological uses in medicine, agriculture, and industry. It also aids in identifying rare or endangered species, contributing to conservation efforts and ecological assessments that inform sustainable practices and biodiversity policies.

Location

Royal Holloway was originally founded to give women access to higher education and provides an inspirational setting for the British Mycological Society's 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting. With the spectacular Founder's Building and its famous picture gallery, the campus has been named as one of the most beautiful campuses in the world. Situated in 135 acres of parkland in Egham, Surrey, yet just 19 miles from central London, 7 miles from Heathrow Airport, 5 miles from the historic town of Windsor with its famous castle, and, importantly for this event, 15 miles from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
 

Accommodation

Accommodation is not included in registrations for the event, but it will be possible to book bedrooms on the Royal Holloway campus directly with the University. More information coming soon.

Registration

Registration for the Annual Scientific Meeting includes attendance at all sessions at the 2.5 day conference, 15 - 17 July 2025, and the Tuesday evening welcome dinner. The meeting registration fee does not include the visit to Kew, Wednesday evening's dinner, or accommodation. The social events can be booked separately when registering. Bedrooms can be booked on campus.

Registration for the Student Research Conference includes attendance at the 1 day conference (afternoon of Monday 14 July and morning of Tuesday 15 July) plus one night's accommodation at Royal Holloway and social event on Monday evening.

• Early bird deadline: 30 April 2025
• Registration deadline: 1 July 2025
   

Registration fees:

Please note our cancellation policy:

Up to and including 14 June 2025: 100% refund or you can choose to transfer the booking to someone else. From 15 June 2025 onwards: No refund, but you can choose to transfer the booking to someone else up to 1 July. If you need to cancel or transfer the booking, please contact sally@britmycolsoc.info