For the first time in China, a schools competition was sponsored by MiSAC, BMS and the Chinese Mycological Society to produce a poster on the topic of Helpful Fungi. The competition took place in three provinces of China, with students of 16+ as the target group. Entrants were encouraged to carry out research outside their normal area of study.

There were over 300 entries, the majority of which featured fungi used in traditional Chinese medicine. There seemed little awareness of the immense importance of fungi and their products (eg, antibiotics, statins, immunosuppressants) in what was termed 'western medicine'.

Posters were displayed, and awards made, at the International Economic Fungi Conference held at Longquan, Zhejiang Province, China. The overall winner, on receiving his award, made a short but excellent speech in very good English on the pleasure he had gained from researching and producing his poster.