Educational and Scientific Activities Policy

Purpose:

The purpose of this policy is to define the objectives and structure of the MST with regard to education and its relationships with members of the professional and amateur mycological communities.

Definitions:

References:

• Membership Policy

Policy:

1. Educational and Scientific Activities
   1. The MST shall stimulate interest in and encourage serious study of mycology.
   2. The MST may, with the advice of professional mycologists, undertake projects or activities that will provide information or data for the scientific study of fungi, and may form a committee to organize and undertake such projects or activities.
   3. The MST may, at the discretion of the Board and with the recommendation of its scientific advisors, provide grants, scholarships, sponsorships or bursaries for endeavours in mycology or related fields.
2. Scientific Advisors
   1. The Board may, at its discretion, request professional mycologists or other science professionals to serve as scientific advisors to the MST. The scientific advisor will, when accepting the request, become a member of the MST without payment of dues, until informing the board that they no longer wish to serve as scientific advisor.
   2. The role of scientific advisors includes:
      • Providing advice to the MST and its members on various topics of mycology
      • Assisting with the identification of collected species, and with the authentication of all identifications at the MST's main forays, particularly the Cain Foray
      • Advising the MST and its members on activities that may provide useful information to professional mycologists and further the scientific study of mycology
      • Providing advice on courses, books and publications that may be recommended to the members of the MST in order to advance their knowledge of mycology
3. Relationships with other Mycological Societies or Organizations
   1. The MST may, at the discretion of the Board, become a member of mycological organizations or other organizations that are, in part, federations or associations of local or regional mycological societies or other organizations, and may pay the dues required for such membership.
   2. The MST may, at the discretion of the Board, enter into exchange memberships or affiliation with other local or regional mycological societies or organizations, in accordance with the membership policy.
   3. The MST may exchange newsletters and provide or exchange information, as deemed appropriate by the board, with other mycological societies or organizations without becoming a member or affiliate of these societies or organizations.