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President
2
The last word of the corresponding notes of my predecessor, John Peberdy, was 'abroad'. Significantly, it is clear that mycology in Europe, both East and West, will be a recurrent theme over the next few years, with the 10th Congress of European Mycologists, Tallinn, Estonia in 1989, the 4th International Mycological Congress, Regensburg in 1990, and the 3rd European Symposium on Mycorrhizas, Sheffield in 1991. The election of Professor Doris Rast, an eminent Swiss mycologist, as VicePresident reflects this theme and greater involvement of the Society in Europe must surely rapidly develop. This less parochial outlook of the Society will be furthered by the launching this year of Mycological Research. The new name and format, together with overseas editors, have great prospects for enhancing the international reputation of the journal which will replace the Transcations. The Society is very broadly based in both 'pure' and 'applied' aspects of mycology, which are reflected in the varied activities of its Special Interest Committees. Since polarisation and over-specialisation, however, are not in the Society's long-term interests, one of my principal objectives will be to encourage co-operation between SICs so that interdisciplinary ventures, the very essence of productive research, are fostered. Collaboration between 'pure' mycologists and 'Industry' must also be enhanced so that commercial exploitation of fungi is conducted in a rational and effective manner. Such exploitation must be balanced by conservation of fungi in the natural environment, an area where expertise and advice of the large and active amateur wing of the Society have major roles to play. It is appropriate to end by a reminder that 1989 is the centenary of the death of Rev M J Berkeley. Since one of his many achievements was the recognition of the involvement of Phytophthora infestans in the late blight of potato, it is timely to reflect on the human misery caused by this organism in the mid-1840s. Berkeley's contributions to mycology will be commemorated by a Symposium in Dublin and a Dinner of the Society in London.
President
The last word of the corresponding notes of my predecessor, John Peberdy, was 'abroad'. Significantly, it is clear that mycology in Europe, both East and West, will be a recurrent theme over the next few years, with the 10th Congress of European Mycologists, Tallinn, Estonia in 1989, the 4th International Mycological Congress, Regensburg in 1990, and the 3rd European Symposium on Mycorrhizas, Sheffield in 1991. The election of Professor Doris Rast, an eminent Swiss mycologist, as VicePresident reflects this theme and greater involvement of the Society in Europe must surely rapidly develop. This less parochial outlook of the Society will be furthered by the launching this year of Mycological Research. The new name and format, together with overseas editors, have great prospects for enhancing the international reputation of the journal which will replace the Transcations. The Society is very broadly based in both 'pure' and 'applied' aspects of mycology, which are reflected in the varied activities of its Special Interest Committees. Since polarisation and over-specialisation, however, are not in the Society's long-term interests, one of my principal objectives will be to encourage co-operation between SICs so that interdisciplinary ventures, the very essence of productive research, are fostered. Collaboration between 'pure' mycologists and 'Industry' must also be enhanced so that commercial exploitation of fungi is conducted in a rational and effective manner. Such exploitation must be balanced by conservation of fungi in the natural environment, an area where expertise and advice of the large and active amateur wing of the Society have major roles to play. It is appropriate to end by a reminder that 1989 is the centenary of the death of Rev M J Berkeley. Since one of his many achievements was the recognition of the involvement of Phytophthora infestans in the late blight of potato, it is timely to reflect on the human misery caused by this organism in the mid-1840s. Berkeley's contributions to mycology will be commemorated by a Symposium in Dublin and a Dinner of the Society in London.
President