Mike Wingfield

"We need to know a lot more about the world around us in terms of microbes – where they are in the natural environment and what threats they pose to us."

"This is mostly because we have a powerful plant pathology community and that most plant diseases are caused by fungi."

"This award has come to me in the latter part of my career. Maybe that is mostly the case for awards of this type that have huge prestige and likely would not go to early-career scientists."

"I see my role as one primarily of mentorship. To pass on my knowledge and experience to younger scientists – to share my passion for the fungi and for research with others that might build on what I have been privileged to do – not only via this award – but linked to my career as a scientist."

"I hope to at least explore those opportunities and to get this process started."

"This, we need to know more about – where are they? What are the long-term threats? Knowing such things prepares us for a more secure future."