Silvia Blumenfeld facts for kids

Silvia N. Blumenfeld is a scientist who is an expert in mycology, which is the study of fungi like mushrooms and molds. From 1986 to 2004, she was a professor at the National University of Comahue in Río Negro, Argentina. She taught about fungi and how to use them in biotechnology.

In 2002, she moved to Israel. There, she became the person in charge of the fungi collection at Tel Aviv University. She focused on special mushrooms that can be used as medicine. Dr. Blumenfeld has written over 50 articles and books, and she even has patents for her inventions. She has also received important awards for her work, including the Argentine National 'José Antonio Balseiro' Prize in 1995.

Silvia Blumenfeld's Career

Silvia Blumenfeld is a professor and researcher who studies mycology, plant diseases, and diseases that affect forests. She is an expert in using mushrooms and other fungi in biotechnology. This means she knows how to use them to create useful products or processes.

She has led projects to improve edible and medicinal mushrooms. For example, she worked on making mushrooms grow better or have stronger medicinal properties. Dr. Blumenfeld spent 20 years developing ways to produce mushroom "inoculants" (which help mushrooms grow) on a large scale for industries.

Key Roles and Contributions

• Professor of Plant Diseases: From 1986 to 2004, she taught about diseases that affect plants at the National University of Comahue in Argentina.
• Biotechnology Professor: She also taught a master's degree course on how to use fungi in technology from 1995 to 2004.
• National Research Council: She was a researcher for Argentina's National Research Council (CONICET) from 1985 to 2002.
• Fungi Collection Curator: From 2006 to 2010, she managed the collection of fungi at Tel Aviv University in Israel.
• International Speaker: She has been invited to teach at many universities and institutes around the world, including in Canada, Spain, France, the USA, Mexico, and Brazil.
• Mycolo Company: In 2010, she started her own company called Mycolo. This company specializes in growing medicinal mushrooms and turning them into extracts for health purposes.

Academic Achievements and Awards

Dr. Silvia Blumenfeld has achieved a lot in her academic career. She studied at the Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences) at the University of Buenos Aires.

Education and Degrees

• First Degree: She earned her first degree, called a Licentiate, in Biological Sciences.
• Doctorate: She then completed a higher degree, a Doctorate (Ph.D.), also in Biological Sciences.
• Professor: She became a Professor of Plant Pathology and Biotechnology of Mushrooms.

Major Awards and Recognition

• José Antonio Balseiro Prize (1995): This was a very important national award in Argentina. Dr. Blumenfeld received it as the leader of a team that helped transfer technology and knowledge about edible mushrooms to businesses. The Ministry of Education and the Forum of Science and Technology gave her this award. The President of Argentina, Dr. Carlos Menem, presented it to her on April 26, 1995, at the Government's House.

Professional Memberships

Dr. Blumenfeld has been a member of several important scientific groups throughout her career. These memberships show her dedication to the field of mycology and related sciences.

• She has been a member of the Argentine Society of Botany since 1977.
• She was also a member of the Mycological Society of America from 1985 to 1995.
• Since 1987, she has been a member of the Argentine Association of Mycology.
• She joined the Latin American Association of Mycology in 1994.

See also

In Spanish: Silvia Blumenfeld para niños