Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso

Happy New Year!! 🎉

We're pleased to be back with some exciting new opportunities which we will be sharing in the coming weeks.

We are again inviting host labs to share their projects for our 2026 BiPS Summer Studentships.

Head to our website for more details: buff.ly/g6vAJmM

At Black in Plant Science celebrating excellence is one of main pillars. So if you would like to apply or nominate anyone, applications are now open. We are looking for Black Heritage Early Career Researchers, if this is you, or someone you know, then please don't hesitate to apply! buff.ly/RrP7DM9

We are strongly encouraging projects in the area of Physics of Life, in alignment with our partnership with PoLNET. If your lab has a project in this area, we'd love for you to share your projects so that we can match the successful student with the right lab. Learn more: buff.ly/bE9djQK

Everyone’s a Seed - Celebration Event

We are happy to join our partners in inviting you to join them in celebrating amazing community poets from Leeds and Bradford and the publication of the Everyone’s a Seed poetry Anthology.

🕑10am
📍SHINE Community Centre in Harehills

Register: buff.ly/ymA80wl

It was inspiring to hear @yoselin.bsky.social talk about the Black in Plant Science network last night. I so agree about the importance of creating a sense of community and belonging, through networks and support, to grow self-confidence and bring the power of diversity to botany.

Thanks @bsbibotany.bsky.social it was a pleasure to share with you all.

As 2025 draws to a close, we look back on a year filled with its share of positives and challenges, a year that felt unbalanced at times. Now, it’s time to turn the page. Let’s welcome 2026 with open hearts, fresh hopes, and expectations that inspire us to grow, dream, and celebrate what lies ahead.

Merry Christmas everyone. My team and I went out to celebrate with my preferred game Shuffleboard. Although I lost :( #teambuilding #positiveculture

Group photo of ~80 people outside a concrete and glass building

Photograph of a row of six people of African origin at a desk with attention focussed on an object to the right and out of view of the camera. Other faces in the background.

A photo of a white much with the words ‘connect, celebrate, cultivate’ in black capital letters sitting on a white branded notepad with the Black in Plant Sciences logo in green and black. These objects are on a conference chair with similar chairs out of focus in the background.

Last week we held the 2nd @blackinplantsci.bsky.social conference in Leeds, full of 🌱science, 🌸art, African crops, careers & mentorship and talent. Highlight was seeing the impacts of our Research Excellence Awards & Studentships. So proud to honour and promote the excellence in our community 💓

I am pleased to share this paper. A beautiful and useful collaboration between a group of researchers and lecturers who care about plant Science education.
Thank you to all that contributed!
Check it out! nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Big shout to all authors, including @lizalvey.bsky.social @plantteaching.bsky.social @plantpollinator.bsky.social @spoel-lab.bsky.social
@discontinuedap.bsky.social
@yoselin.bsky.social
@katharinehubbard.bsky.social
@gomollonsara.bsky.social @gpsep.bsky.social @instmolplantsci.bsky.social

Strongly disagree, this assumes equal contribution and meaningful impact factor. Far from what science is but I think you know that.

Love it! I am soo lucky to belong to the amazing brotherhood and sisterhood that is @blackinplantsci.bsky.social

T shirts ready

It feels soo close!! Very excited to host the @blackinplantsci.bsky.social conference this Friday at Leeds.
Download the official program here blackinplantscience.org/bips-confere...

About 10 tickets left. register today and be part of the @blackinplantsci.bsky.social community
Registration closes this week. blackinplantscience.org/bips-confere...

The team

The lab is celebrating double birthday today. Thanks to all team members for spending a bit of your Friday to share birthday celebrations. Go Team! #femalepower

We are so honoured that we are hosting our second Black in Plant Science Conference which wouldn't be possible without our incredible sponsors:

@TheGatsbyFoundation
@SEB
@JohnInnesCentre
@UniversityofLeeds
@GrowMoreFoundation
@NewPhytologist
@ThePlantJournal
@BioImaging UK and @PhysicsofLife

📢You have until this Sunday evening to register for the Black in Plant Science Conference 2025!

Join us for an unforgettable day of connection and celebration and hear from some of the leading plant enthusiasts from the UK and beyond.

Register here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1362997455...

I can't stress it more. This conference has been designed for us by us. Support @blackinplantsci.bsky.social conference at the University of Leeds funded by the SEB, Faculty of Biological Science at Leeds, the Grow More and New Phytologist foundations and Gastby. Join us on 24/10, details below.

Thank you for sharing our research funded by @ukri.org and shining a light to plant sciences! This is the work of a team and
collaboration spread across multiple disciplines

I can't stress it more. This conference has been designed for us by us. Support @blackinplantsci.bsky.social conference at the University of Leeds funded by the SEB, Faculty of Biological Science at Leeds, the Grow More and New Phytologist foundations and Gastby. Join us on 24/10, details below.

📢Panel Announcement: The Journey of Plants through Black Botanist

Join us for an inspiring and educational panel exploring the profound connections between plants, people, and the powerful legacy of Black botanists throughout history and today.

Register here: buff.ly/D0t0mgb

📢Speaker Announcement: Lisa-Dionne Morris
🧾Workshop: Working beyond academia, different routes

Professor Lisa-Dionne Morris is a distinguished UK-based Black female leader who is transforming the landscape of leadership, equity, and diversity in academia & beyond.

Learn more here: buff.ly/sFFQC8y

🌿 Calling All Undergrads!
Black in Plant Science Conference 2025 - Friday 24 September

- 🤝 Meet fellow students & researchers
- 🎤 Hear from inspiring speakers
- 🍃 Build your academic and social community
- 🎓 Student Fee: £15

🔗 Register Here: buff.ly/cdIr29N

📢Workshop Announcement: Culturally Sensitive Mentoring

Chaired by Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso alongside Dr Katharine Hubbard and Chloe Lewis this interactive workshop equips mentors with the tools to engage meaningfully across cultures.

To find out more, head to our website: buff.ly/huckAbw

September is the last month to Register to attend the Black in Plant Science UK conference. The event celebrates Diversity and the contributions of Plant Researchers from minoritized African American…... September is the last month to Register to attend the Black in Plant Science UK conference. The event celebrates Diversity and the contributions of Plant Researchers from minoritized African American ...

www.linkedin.com/posts/yoseli...

@blackinplantsci.bsky.social that is what's up

📢Speaker Announcement: Bharat Pokhrel
🧾Workshop: Working beyond academia, different routes

Dr Bharat Pokhrel is a Research Development Manager, where he supports the development of large-scale research and innovation proposals in engineering and physical sciences. Learn more here: buff.ly/XYpRIHy

Always a pleasure sharing with the team the lab. Last week afternoon break becomes a battle at snakes and ladders #smallpleasures

Re-join the New Phytologist next generation scientists live stream at 18:30 BST (UTC+1), when we'll be delighted to welcome Noni Franklin-Tong for a special evening lecture on 'A research career focused on investigating how self-incompatibility works'

👉 www.newphytologist.org/nextgenevent...