Marta Filipa Simões (ORCID ID: 0000-0002-8767-9487) is currently working as an Assistant Professor at the State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Science (SKLPlanets), at Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), in China. Her research fits within astrobiology and astromycology, focusing on: fungal ecology and biodiversity in environmental analogues to outer-space conditions, fungal development under simulated outer-space conditions, bioprospection and application of filamentous fungi, and fungal growth containment (in the context of planetary protection) and exploitation to human needs in outer-space similar conditions.

She is highly engaged with different organisations and societies to promote the dissemination of science, particularly microbiology, and astrobiology, as well as to develop answers to environmental concerns and space exploration. She is member of: 1) Editorial Board of Microbiology Today, the Microbiology Society's membership magazine (https://microbiologysociety.org/members-outreach-resources/microbiology-today.html, https://microbiologysociety.org/); 2) the Applied Microbiology International (AMI, https://appliedmicrobiology.org/) and part of the Climate Action Advisory Group (CAAG); 3) the Portuguese Language Office of Astronomy for Development (PLOAD, https://pload.org/), developed by the Office of Astronomy for Development – International Astronomical Union (IAU); 4) the Macao Association for Scientific Cooperation between China and Portuguese Speaking Countries (ASCMAC; www.ascmac.org); 5) the Network of European Researchers in Biology and Medicine in China (NERBIMEC – https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/worldwide/china/network-european-researchers-biology-and-medicine-china); 6) the Origins of Life Early-career Network (OoLEN, www.oolen.org); and 7) Astrobiology Society of Asia-Pacific (ASAP, https://astrobiology.asia/).

You can find more information here: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=sm5g6nsAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao or here: www.researchgate.net/profile/Marta-Simoes-3. 

Seminar Title: Astromycology: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities of Fungi in Space Exploration 

Abstract: Space exploration is currently booming. New crewed missions are being planned, and for these we must consider all of the additional "hitchhikers", or any microbes that we bring with us, either as part of our microbiome or as selected resources. Microbial species, like humans, are impacted by outerspace conditions. As a result, we need to know every detail concerning microorganism development under such circumstances when planning future crewed space expedition.

Fungi are frequently overlooked and undervalued in microbiology. However, they can pose a risk to human crews, especially when subjected to stress circumstances such as altered gravity, radiation, Lunar and Mars regolith, and so on. But they can also be useful as producers of relevant products like medical drugs, metal nanoparticles, and enzymes. Mycogenic processes under outerspace conditions can be affected and sometimes enhanced leading to cheaper products and higher yields.

Within this context, we focus on understanding the full potential of fungal species and how they can help us in future crewed missions, and all the risks they can present in order to avoid crews’ infections, contaminations or decomposition of infrastructures and materials. Astromycology research, as well as fungal processes and products, will be crucial for long-term human presence in space.