Kai Cartwright

Kai is a biologist working at the intersection of environmental microbiology, molecular ecology and genomics to develop strategies and solutions to address environmental challenges. He is interested in microhabitats, the unique biodiversity they support, how organisms shape their environment, and ecosystems across scales, from our bodies to oceans. At All Things Fungi Festival, Kai will share interdisciplinary insight into which microhabitats are good places for students and citizen scientists to search for plastic-eating fungi, why, and how to do so. The topic stems from Kai's MSc research and subsequent work at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Building on two years of research since in the UK and the Netherlands, Kai will soon start a PhD in plant-fungal interactions and plant microbiomes relevant to sustainable, ecological agriculture. In addition to biology, Kai is also a musician, and is looking forward to musical meetings around the fire.