Botanical University Challenge
@bucbotany.bsky.social
Annual plant knowledge quiz among UK and Irish Universities. For more information https://botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/
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🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝 Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026. All this year's teams signed-up; a record 32 from around the UK and Ireland. Some new, some returning, some regular, two present in every competition since the start in 2016! Welcome to all! Which ones are you supporting?
🌿🌾🌴⚘️🍂🌻🐛🦋🐌🌍 Day 1 Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026 was an event!! 32 teams entered but have to say goodbye to 8 with lowest scores - Dundee, Durham, Sheffield, Oxford Brookes, Royal Holloway, Nottingham, Liverpool, Essex. So sad. Top scoring teams included Oxford, UCL, Anglia Ruskin, Aberdeen.
February 12, 2026 at 3:41 PM
🌿🌾🌴⚘️🍂🌻🐛🦋🐌🌍 Day 1 Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026 was an event!! 32 teams entered but have to say goodbye to 8 with lowest scores - Dundee, Durham, Sheffield, Oxford Brookes, Royal Holloway, Nottingham, Liverpool, Essex. So sad. Top scoring teams included Oxford, UCL, Anglia Ruskin, Aberdeen.
Reposted by Botanical University Challenge
Very proud (as team manager) that our joint @uclgeography.bsky.social & @uclcber.bsky.social "Bloomsbury Botanists" team were joint leaders at the end of @bucbotany.bsky.social Round 1. Watch out Oxford we are coming for you with sharpened spines!!!
February 11, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Very proud (as team manager) that our joint @uclgeography.bsky.social & @uclcber.bsky.social "Bloomsbury Botanists" team were joint leaders at the end of @bucbotany.bsky.social Round 1. Watch out Oxford we are coming for you with sharpened spines!!!
🌿🌾🌴⚘️🏵🍂🌻🐛🦋🐌🌍Anyone interested in hearing about a botanical hoax on the Isle of Rum (or Rhum) in Scotland in the early 20th century, was a question in #BUC2026, follow this link.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
February 11, 2026 at 4:01 PM
🌿🌾🌴⚘️🏵🍂🌻🐛🦋🐌🌍Anyone interested in hearing about a botanical hoax on the Isle of Rum (or Rhum) in Scotland in the early 20th century, was a question in #BUC2026, follow this link.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
🌍🌱🌻🌾🌿🌳🐞🪳🐌 Botanical University Challenge 2026 getting into plant genetics and breeding. Pineberries anyone?
February 11, 2026 at 3:24 PM
🌍🌱🌻🌾🌿🌳🐞🪳🐌 Botanical University Challenge 2026 getting into plant genetics and breeding. Pineberries anyone?
Reposted by Botanical University Challenge
Come on the Giggly Gourds (was looking for a socmed account to link to but Bangor Uni has nothing active - only this - @bangoruniversity.bsky.social - on Bluesky! Wowee).
Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026 starts streaming in 10 minutes!
www.youtube.com/@BotanicalUn...
www.youtube.com/@BotanicalUn...
February 11, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Come on the Giggly Gourds (was looking for a socmed account to link to but Bangor Uni has nothing active - only this - @bangoruniversity.bsky.social - on Bluesky! Wowee).
Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026 starts streaming in 10 minutes!
www.youtube.com/@BotanicalUn...
www.youtube.com/@BotanicalUn...
February 11, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026 starts streaming in 10 minutes!
www.youtube.com/@BotanicalUn...
www.youtube.com/@BotanicalUn...
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🐝 Today! See all 32 teams that will compete from 14:00 GMT this afternoon 11 Feb in Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026. Dr Martin Barker, Aberdeen, will ask the questions! Streamed YouTube www.youtube.com/@BotanicalUn... @bsbibotany.bsky.social
February 11, 2026 at 10:50 AM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🐝 Today! See all 32 teams that will compete from 14:00 GMT this afternoon 11 Feb in Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026. Dr Martin Barker, Aberdeen, will ask the questions! Streamed YouTube www.youtube.com/@BotanicalUn... @bsbibotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🐝More teams for Botanical University Challenge. Shef-field Forget-me-nots, UCD Yarrows, Bloomsbury Botanists (first team ever from University College London) and Long Thyme No See (but we have seen York several times, even as runner-up). Total 32 teams playing tomorrow. Amazing!
February 10, 2026 at 3:54 PM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🐝More teams for Botanical University Challenge. Shef-field Forget-me-nots, UCD Yarrows, Bloomsbury Botanists (first team ever from University College London) and Long Thyme No See (but we have seen York several times, even as runner-up). Total 32 teams playing tomorrow. Amazing!
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🐝Oxford Ragworts, Plymophytes, Trivialis kewtensis, Bats out of Hell-eborine, Fern-tastic Fronds, Spurge of the Moment. More great names for more great teams in Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026. Starts tomorrow, 14:00 GMT Weds 11 Feb www.youtube.com/@BotanicalUn...
February 10, 2026 at 9:59 AM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🐝Oxford Ragworts, Plymophytes, Trivialis kewtensis, Bats out of Hell-eborine, Fern-tastic Fronds, Spurge of the Moment. More great names for more great teams in Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026. Starts tomorrow, 14:00 GMT Weds 11 Feb www.youtube.com/@BotanicalUn...
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🐝More #BUC2026 teams! Dundee Daffodils, Rage Against the Rhododendron (Galway), Harper Plant-hoppers, Stomata - Hardly Know Her (Leeds), Xylem - We Hardly Know 'Em (Nottingham) & Life and Let Thymes (Oxford). Such great team names! More later!! Competition starts Wednesday 11 February!!!
February 9, 2026 at 10:11 AM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🐝More #BUC2026 teams! Dundee Daffodils, Rage Against the Rhododendron (Galway), Harper Plant-hoppers, Stomata - Hardly Know Her (Leeds), Xylem - We Hardly Know 'Em (Nottingham) & Life and Let Thymes (Oxford). Such great team names! More later!! Competition starts Wednesday 11 February!!!
Reposted by Botanical University Challenge
Brilliant to see #BUC2026 growing! Plant literacy matters as biodiversity crisis deepens. We need to revalue what we're losing - the common, the overlooked, the "weeds" botsoc.scot/2025/12/31/r... #PlantBlindness #Biodiversity @camplantsci.bsky.social @newphyt.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Dr. Helen Kopnina: Requiem for the Weeds
Dr Kopnina, Helen (PhD Cambridge University, 2002) is currently employed at Northumbria University in Newcastle, UK Lecture Theatre, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh Date: Thursday 15 January 2…
botsoc.scot
February 8, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Brilliant to see #BUC2026 growing! Plant literacy matters as biodiversity crisis deepens. We need to revalue what we're losing - the common, the overlooked, the "weeds" botsoc.scot/2025/12/31/r... #PlantBlindness #Biodiversity @camplantsci.bsky.social @newphyt.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝 More #BUC2026 teams! Aberdeen - 2025 champions, Cambridge 2024 champions, Eden Project several times semifinalists, Edge Hill teams from start 2016, Essex new this year, Edinburgh another Scottish team! Welcome to all!! @camplantsci.bsky.social @newphyt.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
February 8, 2026 at 11:49 AM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝 More #BUC2026 teams! Aberdeen - 2025 champions, Cambridge 2024 champions, Eden Project several times semifinalists, Edge Hill teams from start 2016, Essex new this year, Edinburgh another Scottish team! Welcome to all!! @camplantsci.bsky.social @newphyt.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Reposted by Botanical University Challenge
Good luck to all teams!
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝 Who will be asking the questions in Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026 in February? Dr Martin Barker, Aberdeen (team #BUC2025 winners !), Professor Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso, Leeds (team new arrival #BUC2025) & Dr Karen Bacon, Galway (first Irish team, #BUC2022) @yoselin.bsky.social
February 7, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Good luck to all teams!
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🐝More teams Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026. Pennywort Lane team, Liverpool (past runner-up, had a few years rest!), We Havn't Got A Clusia from Portsmouth, You Betula Believe It, Royal Holloway (for 2nd year) & Not-So-Hot Potatoes from Southampton (also past runner-up).
February 7, 2026 at 11:44 AM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🐝More teams Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026. Pennywort Lane team, Liverpool (past runner-up, had a few years rest!), We Havn't Got A Clusia from Portsmouth, You Betula Believe It, Royal Holloway (for 2nd year) & Not-So-Hot Potatoes from Southampton (also past runner-up).
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🐝 More teams and their amazing names for Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026. See 'I kissed a Burl, and I liked it' (Anglia Ruskin), 'Top of the Poplars' (Bristol) and 'Durham Dendrons' (Durham)!
February 6, 2026 at 10:15 AM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🐝 More teams and their amazing names for Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026. See 'I kissed a Burl, and I liked it' (Anglia Ruskin), 'Top of the Poplars' (Bristol) and 'Durham Dendrons' (Durham)!
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝 Who will be asking the questions in Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026 in February? Dr Martin Barker, Aberdeen (team #BUC2025 winners !), Professor Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso, Leeds (team new arrival #BUC2025) & Dr Karen Bacon, Galway (first Irish team, #BUC2022) @yoselin.bsky.social
February 5, 2026 at 10:58 AM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝 Who will be asking the questions in Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026 in February? Dr Martin Barker, Aberdeen (team #BUC2025 winners !), Professor Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso, Leeds (team new arrival #BUC2025) & Dr Karen Bacon, Galway (first Irish team, #BUC2022) @yoselin.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝 This year Botanical University Challenge has teams from 3 universities in Wales. Bangor @bangoruniversity.bsky.social and Cardiff Universities have joined Aberystwyth @aberuni.bsky.social . Croeso! See the teams and the range of plant degrees available at these universities. #BUC2026
February 4, 2026 at 10:12 AM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝 This year Botanical University Challenge has teams from 3 universities in Wales. Bangor @bangoruniversity.bsky.social and Cardiff Universities have joined Aberystwyth @aberuni.bsky.social . Croeso! See the teams and the range of plant degrees available at these universities. #BUC2026
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝 Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026. All this year's teams signed-up; a record 32 from around the UK and Ireland. Some new, some returning, some regular, two present in every competition since the start in 2016! Welcome to all! Which ones are you supporting?
February 3, 2026 at 11:48 AM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝 Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026. All this year's teams signed-up; a record 32 from around the UK and Ireland. Some new, some returning, some regular, two present in every competition since the start in 2016! Welcome to all! Which ones are you supporting?
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝 Need more preparation for Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026 ? Think about rainforests. Not all are tropical. Some types are rare; where would you find temperate rainforest? Five suggestions on the picture but which is correct?
February 2, 2026 at 12:24 PM
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🧪🌳🐝 Need more preparation for Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026 ? Think about rainforests. Not all are tropical. Some types are rare; where would you find temperate rainforest? Five suggestions on the picture but which is correct?
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🥦 Getting ready for Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026? Just over 10 days to the big event. Will be live-streamed YouTube - follow QR code. See recording previous years contests same place. Here's a question to whet your appetite!
February 1, 2026 at 11:31 AM
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🥦 Getting ready for Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026? Just over 10 days to the big event. Will be live-streamed YouTube - follow QR code. See recording previous years contests same place. Here's a question to whet your appetite!
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🥦 Another question from a past Botanical University Challenge contest, showing the range of knowledge that involves plants. Think about what baby moths and butterflies eat (i.e. caterpillars) as well as what the beautiful adults need. #BUC2026
January 31, 2026 at 9:54 AM
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🥦 Another question from a past Botanical University Challenge contest, showing the range of knowledge that involves plants. Think about what baby moths and butterflies eat (i.e. caterpillars) as well as what the beautiful adults need. #BUC2026
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🥦 Another question from last year's Botanical University Challenge. Shows the wide range of the plant-themed questions. This year's competition starts 11 February. #BUC2026
January 30, 2026 at 9:40 AM
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🥦 Another question from last year's Botanical University Challenge. Shows the wide range of the plant-themed questions. This year's competition starts 11 February. #BUC2026
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🥦 Try another question from a past Botanical University Challenge competition? Which has the latest regular flowering time of these 5 plants, specifically in UK & Ireland. Although interesting to know answer in other parts of the world. #BUC2026
January 29, 2026 at 11:47 AM
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🥦 Try another question from a past Botanical University Challenge competition? Which has the latest regular flowering time of these 5 plants, specifically in UK & Ireland. Although interesting to know answer in other parts of the world. #BUC2026
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🥦 Preparing for Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026? Can you name the plant in the picture? Five possible names as well. For a bonus - is it a monocot or a dicot?
January 28, 2026 at 3:35 PM
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🥦 Preparing for Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026? Can you name the plant in the picture? Five possible names as well. For a bonus - is it a monocot or a dicot?
Reposted by Botanical University Challenge
Great to have @drmgoeswild.bsky.social & Lauren Baker at #BIBConf25 talking about how @bucbotany.bsky.social is transforming & reinvigorating student botany!
Check out the recording of their talk:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0bK...
And get ready to support #BUC2026!
Check out the recording of their talk:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0bK...
And get ready to support #BUC2026!
January 28, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Great to have @drmgoeswild.bsky.social & Lauren Baker at #BIBConf25 talking about how @bucbotany.bsky.social is transforming & reinvigorating student botany!
Check out the recording of their talk:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0bK...
And get ready to support #BUC2026!
Check out the recording of their talk:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0bK...
And get ready to support #BUC2026!