One Health Mycology: The Westerdijk Spring Symposium 2026

The Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute has announced the Westerdijk Spring Symposium 2026, taking place April 13 to 14, 2026. This year’s event centres on the interdisciplinary theme “One Health Mycology” and will explore the interconnectedness of fungal life across human, animal, and environmental domains.

Hosted at the Institute’s facilities in the Netherlands, the symposium will gather leading scientists to present recent advances across four themes:

• Human and Animal Health
• Fungi Beyond Disease: plant pathogens, microbiomes, mycotoxins, and indoor fungi
• Environmental Mycology: reservoirs, dispersal, and drivers of emergence
• Antifungal Resistance and Novel Antifungals

A significant highlight of the event will be the celebration of Prof. Rob Samson’s 80th Birthday, which will be honoured through a special session featuring talks on Aspergillus taxonomy, and a retrospective look at his contributions to the field. The symposium will also host the Westerdijk Awards, which recognises excellence in mycological research.

The event aims to foster international collaboration and provide a platform for researchers and industry professionals to tackle global health challenges through the lens of mycology.

For further information on the symposium and to secure your place, see the following link.