4th African Fungus Day- 2025 – Fungi and Artificial Intelligence: Biodiversity, Innovative Research, and Conservation

Fungi are often overlooked in conservation, despite being essential to life on Earth. As nature’s recyclers, fungi perform vital ecosystem functions—enhancing soil fertility, forming symbiotic relationships with plants, decomposing organic matter, and supporting ecological balance. Yet, they face the same threats as animals and plants: climate change, habitat destruction, pollution, and overexploitation.

Recognizing the urgent need to spotlight fungal conservation, African mycologists—following an initiative by the Arab Society for Fungal Conservation (ASFC)—have designated May 25th as African Fungus Day. This symbolic date commemorates the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, honoring a legacy of collaboration and progress across the continent.

In 2025, the Arab Society for Fungal Conservation has entrusted the organization of this important celebration to the University of Bucharest. The event, titled “Fungi and Artificial Intelligence: Biodiversity, Innovative Research, and Conservation”, will be held online on May 27, 2025, at 10:00 AM (Romania Local Time, GMT+3) via Google Meet.

The conference is organized by the Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), in collaboration with the Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Egypt. It is held under the auspices of several prestigious international organizations:

International Mycological Association (IMA) – Fungal Conservation Committee (FunCC)
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (MBZ)
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

This year’s theme highlights the intersection of fungal biodiversity and artificial intelligence, encouraging innovative research approaches and collaborative efforts in conservation. By leveraging AI, researchers can better map fungal habitats, predict threats, and model ecosystem responses—bringing cutting-edge tools to the service of global biodiversity.

📅 Event Details:

Title: Fungi and Artificial Intelligence: Biodiversity, Innovative Research, and Conservation
Date: May 27, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM (GMT+3, Romania Local Time)
Location: Online – Join via Google Meet
📝 Registration: Fill out the registration form here (participants will receive an online certificate)

With Egypt being one of the first countries to institute a National Fungus Day, African Fungus Day continues this pioneering tradition by placing fungi at the heart of conservation dialogue. Join us for a day of discovery, dialogue, and digital innovation—celebrating fungi as indispensable allies in sustaining life on Earth.

Event Scientific Committee

Prof. Carmen Chifiriuc
Vice-rector for Research at the University of Bucharest

Prof. Ahmed M. Abdel-Azeem
The Botany and Microbiology Department, the Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Egypt

Event Organizers

Ms. Emilia-Andreea Tănase
The Faculty of Biology

Ms. Oana Peiu
The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest—ICUB

Ms. Elena-Andreea Cârstea
The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest—ICUB

Speakers

Prof. Ahmed M. Abdel-Azeem The Botany and Microbiology Department, the Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Egypt
Welcome speech by ASFC and AfriMA President and announcement of the theme and slogan, Conclusion and Remarks

Prof. Carmen Chifiriuc
Vice-rector for Research at the University of Bucharest
Spores of Responsibility: Romania’s Fungal Conservation Pledge at COP17

Dr. Cătălin Alexandru Lazăr
The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, the University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
HoloBond Scholar (HBS): An AI-Powered Tool for Advancing Holocene Research

Dr. Roba Essam Ismail
The College of Pharmacy, the Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transfer
Integrating Artificial Intelligence in Combatting Fungal Diseases: Diagnosis, Antifungal Resistance, and Therapeutic Strategies

Dr. Doaa Hussein Hassan Dewedar
Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Statistics Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Egypt
Revolutionizing Antifungal Drug Discovery: The Power of AI and Bioinformatics

Ms. Emilia-Andreea Tănase
Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
Artificial Intelligence in DIA Proteomics: Fungal Identification and Functional Insights