Dr. Gordon Walker is an award winning speaker, science communicator, published author, and social media star with over 3 million cumulative followers. He is a passionate and dynamic public speaker who gives talk about mushrooms, fungi, fermentation, sustainability, Gordon's first book "Passport to Kingdom Fungi" will fundamentally transform the way people learn about mushrooms and fungi, serving as the go to resource for a whole new generation of mycophiles and people interested in foraging, food, and fermentation.

Gordon has amassed a massive following on social media, with over 2 million followers on TikTok, ~500K on Instagram, ~340K on Facebook, and ~160K on YouTube. His social media content and popular podcast "FascinatedByFungi" has empowered millions of people to learn about mycology in an accessible and fun manner. He has spoken across the country at mycology events as well as at museums and institutions like the California Academy of Sciences and UC Davis. 

With a background as a PhD biochemist and molecular biologist, Gordon is able to translate complex scientific concepts into digestible tidbits while keeping an audience entertained and engaged with humor and charm. His background in wine science (enology) and extensive experience with food and cooking allows him to regale and enthrall audiences with compelling stories and technical tips. He is the world's foremost expert at the intersection of food, fungi, and fermentation. 

Gordon offers your audience a unique mixture of education and entertainment that will inspire, energize, and motivate people to follow their personal fascinations while opening their minds to the realm of possibilities enabled by his deep knowledge of fungi and profound reverence for nature. He offers lectures, information breakout Q&A sessions, hands-on workshops, and curated foraging and culinary experiences. 

Bio: Originally from Cambridge, MA, Dr. Gordon Walker, attended UC Santa Cruz where he developed a passion for scuba diving and  home brewing. His interest in yeast and fermentation inspired him to attend UC Davis for graduate school where his doctoral research focused on the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in wine production. He has worked at Opus One winery, where he isolated native yeasts to enhance microbial terroir and innovated the use of novel process technologies for fermentation control. Gordon has also worked to support Bay Area biotech, pharmaceutical, and next-gen food companies, helping to supply equipment and technical expertise. 

After finishing his PhD, Gordon spent time in New Zealand where he rekindled a childhood interest in mushrooms and began posting pictures of his finds to social media as @fascinatedbyfungi. Gordon now shares his passion for fungi and fermentation with over 3 million followers worldwide. He is dedicated to educating people about the biology, chemistry, and ecology of mushrooms as well as the culinary and cultural practices surrounding them.

Gordon currently serves as a board member on the Sonoma Mycology Association (SOMA), the oldest and largest mycology club in California. He is chair of the scholarship committee and oversees the assessment and distribution of 25K in grants to support mycological research around North America.