Frequently Asked Questions

Top five, most asked questions about the Fungus Olympics



  1. What conditions are allowed to be used in the Fungus Olympics?

    Due to the wide range of fungi that can be entered, we will not be setting limits on the temperature or media that can be used during the event. Each lab is encouraged to find the optimal temperature and media to give their fungal athlete the edge!

  2. What is the race course?

    We will have a number of different obstacle courses for the fungi to navigate including small offset squares, small hexagons, offset boomerangs and hurdles/limbo. Designs will be available to view on the website soon!

  3. How do you determine the winner?

    We will select winners in multiple categories across the devices. Some example categories include Fastest (highest velocity in a straight line), Smartest (fastest to complete the obstacle courses) and Explorer (most areas explored in the obstacle courses).

  4. Will participants get to test their fungi before the final race?

    Yes, we will send 10 devices (far more than can be used during the Olympics) to offer the opportunity for labs to optimize conditions for their fungi of choice. Devices will be sent out a week prior to receiving the microscopes, so there will be ample time to get ready! No previous experience with microfluidics is required to work the assays and a detailed protocol will be provided.

  5. What is the timeline for the event?

    We are now aiming to run the Fungus Olympics in November 2019-February 2020. Devices containing the obstacle courses will be sent out approximately one week prior to the event, to allow teams time to practice with the devices and optimize them for their particular fungal athlete. Cytosmart microscopes will be mailed to labs a week later. Labs will have the microscopes for 5 days, during which time they must run the experiments that will count as their entry. At the end of their time, the microscope must be sent back to Cytosmart.