ISMSNEWS Advancing Our Objectives I
n order to move forward and evolve as a Society, it is important to remind ourselves of our defined objectives; ‘The objectives of the International Society for Mushroom Science are the dis-
semination of information on new developments and the science of mushrooms and to stimulate the exchange of new ideas between growers and scientists around the world’. During an Executive meeting of the ISMS com- mittee held in May of this year, it was resolved that the focus and resources of the Society over the ensuing few months would be directed at supporting one of its primary roles as a resource of scientific information.
First, an overhaul of the ISMS website was necessary to accommodate the expanding needs of the Society to house additional collections of scientific material and for the membership to be able to access the stored information readily. The new site will be multilingual, easier to use than the current site, with a responsiveness built in so that it can be effectively used on any device. Further, the mem- bership database will be integrated automating the process for new members to join the Society. This feature is particularly beneficial to accommodate the surge in interest from people all over the globe wishing to join the Society as individual members, since this level of membership is now offered at no cost. The project is currently in the development phase with plans to launch the new website in the first quarter of 2016.
The existing content, including all the Proceedings from the ISMS conferences dating back to 1950, will be transferred to the new site.
With the expanded database capacity in place, however, the ISMS is now seeking to accumulate the best searchable reference database of downloadable papers on mushroom science that may not appear in scientific Journals. To initiate this effort, Wageningen University in The Netherlands has been sorting through its old collection of manuscripts and is preparing to make the most interesting ones available as searchable PDF for the ISMS database. There has also been discussions with Penn State
University in the United States with regard to including materials from the various mushroom science collections housed at the Col- lege. The database will also be made available to archive back copies of Mushroom Industry Association journals.
The AMGA Journal, published by the Australian Mushroom Growers Association, will be the first housed on the site. Our goal is that we become the major resource for information on Mushroom Science. To make that information accessible is our pur- pose. In doing so we create value as shared knowledge in turn begets innovation. We are making steps...
Christine Smith, Secretary ISMS
Change of plan Dutch Mushroom Days The Mushroom Days Foundation has decided to cancel the coming editions of the Mushroom Days in 2015 and 2017 in
favour of a large duo-event together with the ISMS conference in The Netherlands in 2016.
The Foundation intended to hold the next edition of the biennial Mushroom Days in 2015. This unique, large-scale trade fair in Den Bosch featured 83 exhibitors in 2013, with almost 2,500 visitors from more than 60 countries passing the gates during the three-day event. The Foundation has also taken on the challenge of organising the international scientific conference IS- MS 2016 in Amsterdam. The ISMS is held every four years. The next item on the event agenda would then be the 2017 edition of the Mushroom Days.
However, these plans, with a large international event taking place in the Netherlands in three, successive years, were consi- dered too ambitious in the view of many exhibitors and sponsors. Many wondered if the costs incurred each time would be offset by the number of visitors. In a series of recent meetings with exhibitors, broad support was shown for cancellation of the trade fair in 2015 and 2017 in favour of combining the ISMS conference and the Mushroom Days in 2016. Taking all this into account, the organisers have decided to modify their plans in order to comply with the overriding prefe- rence for a single, event combining the ISMS conference in Amsterdam and the Mushroom Days trade fair in Den Bosch in 2016. The editions planned for 2015 and 2017 have therefore been cancelled.
The organising committee is fully aware that this is no easy challenge. However, they can rely on the expertise of experienced event organisers, and can count on broad support from the exhibitors and sponsors to help stage an amazing event in 2016 which is sure to deliver a memorable mushroom week in the Netherlands for the exhibiting and visiting participants.
MUSHROOM BUSINESS 19
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