As part of the Automne de la science 2026, come and meet Professor Marc-André Selosse, a mycologist and botanist. Join him in exploring the fascinating world of mycelium and its vital role for all living things.
What if mushrooms were the true heroes of the living world? What we see in forests is actually only the visible part of a vast, little-known universe. Beneath our feet lies an underground network of microscopic filaments: mycelium. This living web connects plants to one another, recycles organic matter, and plays an active role in the functioning of ecosystems. Marc-André Selosse, an internationally renowned mycologist and botanist, invites us to discover this invisible world on which much of life depends. In a single hectare of forest, the total mass of fungi found in the soil and plants can equal the weight of around twenty cows. Their role is fundamental: without them, nearly eight out of ten plants could not survive. They are also a source of inspiration: they play a crucial role in plant nutrition and carbon storage, paving the way for innovative solutions in agriculture and, more broadly, helping address the major environmental challenges of our time. Marc-André Selosse is a professor at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, working in the ISYEB laboratory (MNHN, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE and Université des Antilles). A mycologist and botanist, his research focuses on the ecology and evolution of symbioses. He is particularly known for his expertise in mycorrhizal symbioses, the remarkable associations that unite soil fungi with plant roots. He is the author of numerous books, editor of four international scientific journals, a member of the Académie d’agriculture de France, and president of the Fédération Biogée, which brings together stakeholders involved in life sciences and technologies, Earth sciences, and environmental sciences. This talk is presented in partnership with Sorbonne Université and moderated by Guillaume Tixier, an environmental, science, and health journalist. Portrait of Marc-André Selosse; Credits: Institut universitaire de France Sorbonne Université; Credits: Sorbonne Université
Source: paris.fr — photo: Luminessens