About NUNM Mycology Club

Welcome to the NUNM Mycology Club, a community for students curious about the incredible world of fungi and their place within natural medicine, human health, and the ecosystems that sustain us. Whether you are an experienced mycologist or have never identified a mushroom before, our club is a place to explore, learn, and connect. We will dive into medicinal mushrooms and their traditional and contemporary uses, fungal biology and ecology, cultivation, mycological research, identification, and the fascinating relationships between fungi, plants, microbes, and human health. Through guest speakers, educational discussions, workshops, cultivation projects, nature walks, foraging adventures, and opportunities to connect with mycology organizations and businesses, we hope to make the study of fungi both approachable and hands-on.

At NUNM, we have a unique opportunity to explore mycology through the lens of naturopathic medicine—connecting scientific evidence and clinical applications with traditional knowledge, ecological awareness, and our philosophy of treating the whole person. The club aims to create a collaborative space where students from across NUNM can share knowledge, ask questions, develop practical skills, and discover how fungi may contribute to the future of natural medicine. Whether your interest lies in medicinal mushrooms, clinical mycology, cultivation, foraging, ecology, research, or simply appreciating the fungal world, there is a place for you here. Come learn with us, get your hands dirty, and discover how fungi can help us better understand nature, medicine, and ourselves.

For many of us, an interest in mushrooms starts with simple curiosity—a strange mushroom on a hike, a documentary, a childhood fascination with the forest, or maybe discovering the work of mycologists like Paul Stamets and realizing just how much there is beneath the surface. Humans have been interacting with fungi for thousands of years, from traditional medicinal practices and food to spiritual and cultural traditions, yet fungi remain surprisingly underrepresented in mainstream education and healthcare. Today, that is beginning to change. Medicinal mushrooms and fungal compounds are receiving increasing scientific attention for their potential roles in immune health, inflammation, cognition, oncology, microbiome interactions, and more. At NUNM, we have an exciting opportunity to explore this ancient kingdom through a modern lens—bringing together traditional knowledge, emerging research, ecological understanding, and the principles of naturopathic medicine.

From the forest floor to our own bodies, fungi are quietly shaping the world around us. 

Fungi are far more than the mushrooms we see above ground. They form vast underground mycelial networks, break down organic matter, support plant communities, influence ecosystems, and interact with countless microorganisms—including those living on and inside us. Learning about fungi means learning about ecology, microbiology, botany, nutrition, immunology, and even human health all at once. Whether we're examining a mushroom in the forest or discussing its microscopic biology, mycology gives us another way to understand how deeply connected living systems really are. 

Ancient knowledge is meeting modern science—and we're just beginning to understand the possibilities. 

Fungi have been incorporated into traditional health practices across cultures for generations, with mushrooms such as Reishi, Turkey Tail, Lion’s Mane, and Cordyceps becoming particularly well known. Modern researchers are now investigating many of the compounds found in fungi and their interactions with biological systems. While exciting discoveries continue to emerge, there is still a tremendous amount we don't know—and that's what makes mycology so fascinating. The NUNM Mycology Club provides a space to explore this intersection thoughtfully, separating established evidence from emerging research while appreciating the traditional knowledge that helped bring these organisms into the conversation. 

The best way to learn about mycology is to get out and experience it. 

Mycology doesn't have to stay inside a textbook. Throughout the year, the club will create opportunities to forage, cultivate, identify, observe, experiment, and learn together. Join us for mushroom walks through Oregon forests, cultivation projects, workshops, guest speakers, conferences, research discussions, and conversations with people working across the fungal world. You don't need to be a mycologist to join—just bring your curiosity. There is always another mushroom to find, another question to ask, and another layer of the fungal kingdom waiting to be discovered. 🍄