Bishop Provides Valuable Community Outreach and Fungi Education

Martha Bishop

An example of excellence in community outreach and plant and fungi education, Martha Bishop goes above and beyond as lab coordinator for the Environmental & Plant Biology Department.

In addition to coordinating the teaching labs, Bishop teaches two courses, Medicinal Plants of Ohio and Biology of Fungi, at Ohio University. She also serves on the boards of directors of both the Friends of Strouds Run State Park and the Ohio Mushroom Society, as a knowledgeable leader of multiple bioblitz hikes, and as lecturer and poisonous mushroom identifier.

Martha Bishop during an educational hike

Through her work with the Friends of Strouds Run, Bishop helps to oversee service projects including water quality testing, trail maintenance and construction, invasive species removal, and clean up days for the state park. Friends of Strouds Run recently organized construction of the Blackhaw Trail, which was designed to be accessible under Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

With the Ohio Mushroom Society, which is a state chapter of the North American Mycological Association, Bishop hosts forays where people can learn about Ohio’s mushrooms and other fungi. Her work with NAMA also includes emergency identification of mushrooms for folks who call in wondering if they, a loved one, or a pet have ingested toxic fungi.

As a fungi expert, Bishop has presented lectures for the Athens County Master Gardeners and recently led a workshop for educators at Crane Hollow State Nature Preserve in conjunction with Camp Oty’Okwa and Ashland College.

“It is thought that up to ninety percent of green plants partner with fungi,” Bishop says. “People tend to forget that plants are essential to human life, and that fungi play a major role in supporting both plant health and the ecosystem.”

Bishop partnered with Rural Action and the Ohio Mushroom Society to lead eight bioblitz hikes this year on the Athens district of the Wayne National Forest. These bioblitzes were open to the public and concentrated on identifying as many species as possible in the forest, as well on education about fungi in particular. She also led two days of plant hikes for students at Alexander High School for their bioblitz activities in partnership with Rural Action.

Bishop has been with Ohio University and the Environmental & Plant Biology Department for the past 14 years and continues to be a valued member of the plant biology community.