KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is holding an exhibition to highlight the results of mushroom research in Sabah.
The 2024 Mushroom Research Exhibition themed 'Mushroom Art: Fungi of Borneo' will be held from today until the end of the month at the Magavol Exhibition Room, Azman Hashim UMS Gallery (GAH-UMS) here.
UMS vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor said the exhibition is to showcase the research through artwork of several local artists.
Kasim said mushrooms possess unique appeal in shape, colour, and texture — with potential applications in fabric dyeing, Sabah batik motif designs, food products, and artistic and cultural realms.
"We undertook this initiative to educate and encourage community involvement in the sustainable use of biological resources.
"It is also an effort to raise awareness among communities in Sabah and throughout Malaysia about mushrooms.
"Although knowledge about mushrooms has been passed down from generation to generation, there are still many cases of mushroom poisoning. Therefore, awareness and knowledge about mushrooms need to be improved," he added.
UMS is also grateful that the UMS Mycology Team has received funding from the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12) allocation for fungal research.
He said the initiative aims to identify species of wild fungi with the potential for commercialisation as a proactive step in addressing global food security threats.
Meanwhile, UMS Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ITBC) director Associate Professor Dr Fiffy Hanisdah Saikim said she hoped such an exhibition could bridge the gap between science and arts.
"Through this exhibition, we hope to demonstrate how art and science can synergise to produce something extraordinary.
"Art is not only about creative expression, but can also serve as a tool to understand and communicate scientific concepts in a more engaging manner to the public.
"This is an important step in attracting more young people to the STEM field by showing that science is not limited to laboratory experiments but can also be expressed in visual and artistic forms."