Black in Plant Science conference returns to Leeds

The second Black in Plant Science (BiPS) Conference will take place on Friday 24 October, celebrating inclusivity in research and highlighting the contributions of Black researchers, past and present.

Hosted at HELIX on the University of Leeds campus, BiPS 2025 will include keynote talks, as well as creative workshops and networking opportunities.  

Building on the success of last year’s event, the conference aims to inspire, connect and showcase the breadth of talent and innovation across the plant science community. This year, the programme features international experts, academic colleagues from institutions across the UK and the students at the beginning of their professional careers. 

Open to everyone with an interest in plant science, BiPS will offer a welcoming and inclusive space, with sessions designed to foster connection, celebration, and provide safe spaces for Black communities to build networks and share experiences. 

Programme highlights 

Plenary speakers 

• Dr Nicola Patron, Associate Professor at the University of Cambridge and co-founder of Black in Plant Science. Dr Patron’s lab uses synthetic biology to drive innovation in agriculture and biomanufacturing. 
• Dr Kevin Cox, Assistant Professor at Washington University and Principal Investigator at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Dr Cox’s research explores spatial gene expression and plant stress responses. 

Meet the summer studentship cohort 

Hear directly from students Hamda Hassan from King’s College London and Noir Tucker from the University of Bristol as they share their insights from their summer studentships. Their interest areas include plant-microbial interactions, ethnobotany, and plant development. 

Research Excellence Awardees 

Celebrate the contributions of award winners Dr Crispus Mbaluto, from the University of Essex, whose work explores plant immunity and stress responses, and Dr Charlene Dambire from the University of Nottingham, who is internationally recognised for her research on oxygen sensing and crop resilience. 

Get the full programme and register now. 

BiPS is part of the Black in Plant Science network’s wider remit to share profiles, publications, and opportunities that celebrate Black excellence in plant science.  

Find out more about Black in Plant Science. 

Top image: Plenary speakers Dr Nicola Patron and Dr Kevin Cox.