Alan Rockefeller is an American mycologist who specializes in taxonomy,

fungi A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...

photography and

DNA sequencing DNA sequencing is the process of determining the nucleic acid sequence – the order of nucleotides in DNA. It includes any method or technology that is used to determine the order of the four bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine. Th ...

. Rockefeller collects and classifies "known and possibly new types of psilocybin and muscimol mushrooms." In addition, through "phylogenetic and microscopic analysis, he has identified several species not described in the scientific literature." Rockefeller also participates in several citizen science projects by identifying fungi on iNaturalist, Mushroom Observer, and Facebook, as well as teaching mushroom photography classes. The

autodidact Autodidacticism (also autodidactism) or self-education (also self-learning and self-teaching) is education without the guidance of masters (such as teachers and professors) or institutions (such as schools). Generally, autodidacts are individua ...

was described by the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' as a "remarkably dedicated volunteer".

Mycology Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans, including as a source for tinder, traditional medicine, food, and entheogens, as ...

is an underfunded field that relies more than many scientific disciplines on independent naturalists and hobbyists for taxonomic extensions. Rockefeller works professionally in

information security Information security, sometimes shortened to InfoSec, is the practice of protecting information by mitigating information risks. It is part of information risk management. It typically involves preventing or reducing the probability of unauthorize ...

but "the son of two science teachers…started studying mushrooms in 2001 and has since traveled around the world to find and classify them. Since 2007, he has made annual visits to

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

and has photographed more than 1,000 fungi species that grow there." His explorations of Mexican

cloud forests A cloud forest, also called a water forest, primas forest, or tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF), is a generally tropical or subtropical, evergreen, montane, moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud ...

have included studies of night-fruiting,

bioluminescent Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by living organisms. It is a form of chemiluminescence. Bioluminescence occurs widely in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as in some Fungus, fungi, microorganisms including ...

and

fluorescent Fluorescence is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation. It is a form of luminescence. In most cases, the emitted light has a longer wavelength, and therefore a lower photon energy, tha ...

mushrooms. Rockefeller was one of the taxonomists who first described ''

Psilocybe allenii ''Psilocybe allenii'' is a species of agaric fungus in the family Hymenogastraceae. Described as new to science in 2012, it is named after John W. Allen, who provided the type collection. It is found in the northwestern North America from B ...

'' and he "recently co-authored a 2020 publication characterizing five

Psilocybe ''Psilocybe'' ( ) is a genus of gilled mushrooms, growing worldwide, in the family Hymenogastraceae. Most or nearly all species contain the psychedelic compounds psilocybin and psilocin. Taxonomy Taxonomic history A 2002 study of the mole ...

species." He also moderates Shroomery.org, a discussion forum for enthusiasts and home cultivators of

psychedelic mushrooms Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms, are a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain psilocybin which turns into psilocin upon ingestion. Biological genera containing psilocybin mushrooms include ''Psilocybe'', ''Pan ...

, which remain illegal in many/most

jurisdictions Jurisdiction (from Latin 'law' + 'declaration') is the legal term for the legal authority granted to a legal entity to enact justice. In federations like the United States, areas of jurisdiction apply to local, state, and federal levels. Jur ...

.Gonzalez, Tony. "Psychedelic Mushrooms Grow Off Radar." ''McClatchy - Tribune Business News'', Jul 03, 2009''.''

References

External links

Alan Rockefeller on ResearchGate.net
Living people American mycologists Psychedelic drug researchers Year of birth missing (living people) Taxonomists {{mycologist-stub