Quick Facts
| Intro | American mycologist | ||||
| A.K.A. | Stamets | ||||
| Is | Biologist Mycologist Scientist | ||||
| From | United States of America | ||||
| Field | Biology Science | ||||
| Gender | male | ||||
| Birth | 17 July 1955, Salem, Ohio, USA | ||||
| Age | 66 years | ||||
| Star sign | Cancer | ||||
| Residence | Shelton, Mason County, Washington, USA | ||||
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Biography
Paul Edward Stamets (born July 17, 1955) is an American mycologist and entrepreneur who sells various mushroom products through his company. He is an author and advocate of medicinal fungi and mycoremediation.
Personal life
Stamets was born in Salem, Ohio. He grew up in Columbiana, Ohio with an older brother, John, his twin brother North, and younger siblings. He graduated from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington with a bachelor's degree in 1979. Stamets is married to Carolyn "Dusty" Yao. He has two children from a previous marriage, one of whom is named after a hallucinogenic mushroom.
Mycological interest
Stamets credits his late brother, John, with stimulating his interest in mycology, and studied mycology as an undergraduate student. Having no academic training higher than a bachelor's degree, Stamets began his career in the forest as a logger, and is largely self-taught in the field of mycology.
Paul Stamets received an Invention Ambassador (2014-2015) award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
In popular culture
The character Lieutenant Commander Paul Stamets on the CBS series Star Trek: Discovery was named after the real Stamets. The fictional version is an astromycologist and the chief engineer of the USS Discovery, and is credited with discovering a mycelial network that powers an advanced spore drive. Stamets plays a significant part in the 2019 documentary film Fantastic Fungi.
Books
- Fantastic Fungi: How Mushrooms Can Heal, Shift Consciousness & Save the Planet (2019, ISBN 1683837045, 978-1683837046)
- Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World (2005, ISBN 1-58008-579-2)
- Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World (1996, ISBN 0-89815-839-7)
- Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms (1996, ISBN 1-58008-175-4)
- Psilocybe Mushrooms & Their Allies (1978), Homestead Book Company, ISBN 0-930180-03-8
