A group of ninth-grade students recently traded their Saturday routines for lab coats and microscopes as they stepped into the fascinating, and sometimes surprising, world of fungi at Iowa State University. Hosted by the Microbiology Outreach Program in Dr. Silvina Arias’ Seed Science Center lab, the hands-on workshop invited 15 students, in partnership with Science Bound, to explore crucial and different roles fungi play in our world, from beneficial organisms that support plant growth or food fermentation to harmful pathogens that threaten seeds and grains. This immersive experience is designed to spark curiosity and expand access to STEM education.
