Lessons from the Pioneers of a World Changing Cultural Shift. A Historical Analysis of the Commercial Beginnings of the Mycelium Initiative Concept

Today, in 2051, the majority of the world’s leading historians recognize the ‘Mycelium Initiative’ as the 2020s catalyst for the mass cultural shift towards a holistic ecological mentality. Solveig Marie Siem and Håkon Wille identify the beginning of it all in a project for local climate action in a small Norwegian town that eventually developed in a global network. The ‘Mycelium Initiative Centres’ allowed the public to access tools and information to support the creation of their own climate projects.

Solveig Marie Siem and Håkon Wille present their work on day 2 of T2051MCC. On this day it is assumed that global heating has remained below 1.5°C.

Håkon Wille has just finished his MA in Cultural Heritage Management at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. He received international recognition for his master thesis on the role of workshop seminars in the preservation of traditional craft. He also attained a BA in History from Aberystwyth University, Wales. Håkon fostered an interest in pedagogy and conservation in practice while working as a teacher and archivist in his hometown of Ålesund, Norway – the town where the fictitious Mycelium Initiative concept is first established. He is interested in the use of cultural heritage as a part of the solution for modern societal challenges, such as climate change and mental health.