Apr 26
North Bend Theatre North Bend, WA
TicketsDaniel Winkler
Mycologist; Ecologist; Author of Fruits of the Forest: A Field Guide to Pacific Northwest Edible Mushrooms
The Martian— Fungi & Humans in Space
Program Description
The Martian is a celebration of human ingenuity, survival, and the astonishing adaptability of life under impossible conditions. Before the screening, mycologist and author Daniel Winkler, one of the Pacific Northwest’s most engaging guides to the fungal world, will take the stage to explore the equally remarkable strategies fungi use to thrive on a planet that can be just as harsh, unpredictable, and resource‑limited as Mars.
In one evening, two frontiers: a thrilling, fictional struggle for survival on the Red Planet, and the real scientific effort to understand how fungi might help humans build, repair, recycle, and stay alive in places where nothing should grow at all.
Film Synopsis
When astronauts mistakenly leave Mark Watney behind on Mars, the stranded visitor must use his wits, spirit, and scientific know-how to find a way to survive on the hostile planet.
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit, and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring "the Martian" home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible, rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney's safe return. Based on the best-selling novel by Andy Weir, and helmed by master director Ridley Scott, The Martian was nominated for three Golden Globes.
About the Speaker
Daniel Winkler is a mycologist, ecologist, and internationally known mushroom educator whose work bridges scientific expertise with a deep sense of curiosity and wonder. Raised in the Alps and now based in the Pacific Northwest, Daniel has spent more than 25 years studying fungi across the world’s most diverse ecosystems from the old‑growth forests of Washington to the high plateaus of Tibet and the Amazon rainforest.
A longtime advocate for fungal literacy, Daniel is the author of Fruits of the Forest – A Field Guide to Pacific Northwest Edible Mushrooms and leads Mushroaming eco‑tours, where he teaches foragers, naturalists, and travelers how to safely identify mushrooms while understanding their ecological roles. His presentations blend science, storytelling, and humor, making the complex world of fungi accessible to beginners and experts alike.
Whether he’s explaining the hidden architecture of mycorrhizal networks, the cultural history of Cordyceps, or the surprising ways fungi shape the landscapes we depend on, Daniel’s work invites audiences to see the forest, and the planet, through a fungal lens.