Dr hab. Julia Pawłowska on the fascinating world of fungi in a Pulsar video podcast

23 06 2026

Dr hab. Julia Pawłowska from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology at the Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, was a guest on a popular science video podcast produced by Pulsar.

In her conversation with Katarzyna Czarnecka, she discussed the biology and remarkable characteristics of fungi. She explained how fungi resemble humans, under what conditions they reproduce, and why stories about fungi that evoke fear can help popularise mycology.

In her research, Dr hab. Julia Pawłowska focuses on interactions between fungi and bacteria, the evolution and ecology of the earliest terrestrial fungi, as well as fungal diversity, taxonomy and systematics.

She is also actively involved in science communication and the development of citizen science. In 2026, she received the Special Przewroty Award, presented by the Copernicus Science Centre. She was recognised, among other achievements, for developing the “Genetic Mushroom Picking” workshops organised as part of the international FunDive project. During the workshops, participants contribute to genuine scientific research by isolating DNA from fungal samples and helping to collect data on fungal diversity.

Pulsar is a popular science platform presenting the latest scientific achievements and interviews with researchers and experts. It publishes articles, podcasts, and video podcasts devoted to topics including biology, medicine, the environment, technology, social sciences, and space.

The full interview is available on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrQYkh4SSOo

We also invite you to visit the Pulsar website:
https://www.projektpulsar.pl/