BUC 2025 ONLINE
The online knock-out rounds and quarterfinal will be on 12, 19 and 26 February 2025 between teams from across the UK and Ireland for places in the live semi-final and final at University of Cambridge on 20 August 2025. All will be streamed live and recorded to view later on our Botanical University Challenge YouTube Channel. The Third Student Botany Festival will start in the evening 20 August and continue until 22 August 2025.
WHO SUPPORTS BUC 2025?
BUC 2025 is organised by the BUC Planning Team working closely with Cambridge University Botanical Garden.
THE BUC PLANNING TEAM
Dr Jonathan Mitchley, originator and guiding light. Associate Professor in Field Botany, University of Reading. Website drmgoeswild.com X as @drmgoeswild ; Instagram as @drmgoeswild ; BlueSky as @drmgoeswild.bsky.social
Professor Emeritus John Warren, originator and question supervisor. Emeritus Vice Chancellor of the PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment. X as @John_in_Aber
Dr Meriel Jones, social media, questions and organisation ideas. Honorary Senior Lecturer University of Liverpool. Social media for Botanical University Challenge: X as @BUCBotany ; Instagram & Threads as @botanicalunichallenge ; BlueSky as @bucbotany.bsky.social
Dr Lauren Baker, Secondary Education Officer, Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum.
Dr Nigel Chaffey, questions. Visiting Research Fellow, Bath Spa University. Website Plant Cuttings X as @NChaffey
Dr Helen Ougham, questions. Emeritus Reader, Aberystwyth University .
Dr Colin Clubbe, advisor and supporter. Senior Research Leader, Kew. X as @CClubbe
Dr Alastair Culham, question setter and supporter. Associate Professor of Botany and Curator of Reading University Herbarium. X as @BotanyRNG and @RNGHerb.
Dr Sven Batke, organiser and supporter. Senior Lecturer in Plant Science, Edge Hill University. X as @batkesp
Sebastian Stroud, behind the scenes IT. Teaching Fellow in Ecology, University of Leeds. X as @seburbanbotany
Hannah Hall, behind the scenes IT. PhD student, University of Reading
Jonathan Charmley, behind the scenes IT. BA student, University of Reading.
Supporters and advisors
Dr Susan Medcalf, supporter. Protected Sites Lead Advisor, Natural England. X as @pennymarshwort
Professor Alastair Fitter CBE FRS, advisor and supporter. University of York.
Professor Paul Ashton, originator and supporter. Professor of Botany, Edge Hill University.
Dr Hamish Symington, supporter. Junior Research Fellow at University of Cambridge.
For any further questions or more information about BUC2024
contact Dr Jonathan Mitchley
University of Reading