A short summary of OUR project

Across the UK and Ireland, a quiet crisis is unfolding: the world needs plant experts more than ever, yet fewer students feel confident identifying the very organisms that sustain life. 

We are raising £10,000 to ensure over 100 students from across the UK and Ireland can access three transformative days of botanical training, community and confidence-building at Botanical University Challenge 2026 at the University of Reading - removing barriers, enhancing inclusion and growing the next generation of plant experts.

Who are we?

Botanical University Challenge was founded in 2016 by a small team of plant obsessed academics. We wanted to do something joyful and fun to bring together students from across the UK and Ireland and make a positive impact.

So what is BUC?

BUC is an annual programme, consisting of online heats and an in-person final, inspired by the BBC quiz show, University Challenge. We combine the in-person final with a student botany festival, networking opportunities, skills workshops and bespoke botanical training for students across the UK and Ireland.

In August 2026, more than a hundred students from up to 32 different institutions across the UK and Ireland hope to come to the University of Reading for three days of live plant identification, hands‑on skills, careers conversations and the simple, transformative magic of meeting others who love what they love.

What we’re doing and why it matters

Plants underpin life on Earth — yet botanical expertise is in decline.

“The world needs plant experts more than ever, yet fewer students feel confident identifying the very organisms that sustain life.”

Across universities, fewer students are developing confidence in plant identification and applied plant science skills. Students with a passion for plants report feeling isolated. At the same time, society urgently needs skilled plant scientists to tackle biodiversity loss, climate change, food security and ecosystem restoration. We cannot afford to lose the next generation of plant experts.

BUC exists to strengthen the plant science pipeline and foster the next generation of botanists.

BUC doesn’t just teach plant knowledge. It builds belonging, professional confidence and ambition.

Across the UK and Ireland, students who love plants often study in isolation, unsure where they belong or whether their passion has a future, Botanical University Challenge exists to change all that. BUC is “a launchpad, a lifeline, a homecoming”  and the only event of its kind. 

Supporting students

We believe every student deserves access to opportunities. That’s why BUC is free, and why we cover accommodation, meals and full festival access for every student participant. We’ve seen the impact first-hand: students leave with new knowledge, new mentors, new friends, a renewed sense of purpose and overflowing with the joy of plants.

Where will the money go?

Every gift helps grow this community. A gift to BUC directly nourishes, houses, trains and empowers the next generation of plant scientists who will work to protect biodiversity, to restore damaged ecosystems and help communities adapt to a changing world. 

Your gift becomes part of their story:

• £15 nourishes a student for a day
• £50 helps cover their accommodation and rest
• £250 opens the door for a full student place
• £1,000 empowers an entire university team

Every contribution — large or small — directly supports student access and opportunity.

If we hit our first target of £5,000 - This will enable 20 students to attend and cover their accommodation costs and meals, and fund some workshops. 

If we hit our full target of £10,000 - This will allow us to deliver the signature BUC experience - the kind students described as “invaluable,” “inspiring,” “life‑changing,” and “a world of first‑class botanical euphoria. So, everything above, plus:

• Enhanced training & workshops – these were among the most praised sessions in 2025.
• Festival Infrastructure – venue and AV hire for the competition finals and guest speakers and other events
• Printed Materials - Programmes, ID sheets, signage, certificates

Find us here

Follow us to find out how we're doing!

You tube: https://www.youtube.com/@BotanicalUniversityChallenge

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/botanicalunichallenge 

Help us succeed by growing something that lasts

BUC is not just a competition. It is a launchpad. Students leave with:

• Greater botanical confidence

• Expanded professional networks

• Clearer career pathways

• A renewed sense of purpose

If you believe in:

🌿 curious minds 🌍 thriving ecosystems 🌱 strong plant science education 🌾 a future shaped by people who understand plants

Please support BUC 2026 today

You won’t just be funding an event, you’ll be helping us grow the next generation of botanists. Every contribution removes a barrier. Every contribution grows a future botanist.