From September 20 to 22, the 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum was held in Shanghai, co-hosted by China’s Ministry of Science and Technology and the Shanghai Municipal Government. The forum brought together global experts to explore sustainable development in aerospace, marine science, and artificial intelligence.

Group photo

Dr. Marta Filipa Simões, assistant professor and researcher at the State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences (SKLPlanets), Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), was invited to speak at the “Future Space: Advanced Science and Technology in Aerospace and Marine” sub-forum. Her presentation, titled “The Journey of Fungi in Space: Astromycology Insights”, introduced the emerging field of astromycology and its relevance to space sustainability.

Dr. Simões highlighted the critical yet underexplored role of fungi in space environments. Her research investigates how filamentous fungi adapt to altered gravity, using simulated conditions. The findings reveal promising applications for space biotechnology, space-based biomanufacturing (e.g., production of enzymes, medical compounds, and metal nanoparticles) which can be key to reducing payloads and enabling in situ resource utilization (ISRU) for future space missions.

Her talk emphasized the need for deeper exploration of fungal life in space and advocated for open international collaboration to integrate astromycology into the global innovation ecosystem. She also underscored the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to space sustainability, aligning with the forum’s theme: “Space Sustainability: Through Space, For Space, In Space.”

Dr. Simões’ participation reflects MUST’s growing presence in frontier space research and its commitment to advancing scientific dialogue from Macau. Her work contributes to positioning Macau as a hub for innovative research and international cooperation in space science.

Dr. Simões giving a presentation at the sub-forum