Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso

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...

Today I had the chance to hear @noxmakunga.bsky.social talk at New Phytologist next generation meeting. She is amazing. If you have an opportunity to engage with Nox and her work on medicinal plants, please take it!! #greatcommunicator

📢Speaker Announcement: Beatrice Ifie
🧾Workshop: Delivering Impact on African Crops

Dr Beatrice Elohor Ifie is a Senior Research Fellow in Plant Breeding at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Wales. Learn more here: buff.ly/sFFQC8y

📢Speaker Announcement: Oluwaseyi Shorinola

🧾Workshop: Delivering Impact on African Crops

Oluwaseyi (Seyi for short) Shorinola is an Assistant Professor of Plant Biology at the University of Birmingham. Learn more about Seyi and register here: buff.ly/sFFQC8y

🎉We're pleased to announce that our very own Jade Bleau has been awarded the NAASC Earlier Career Community Impact Award.

We would also like to extend our congratulations to the other winners:

💐Joanna Friesner, Jose Dinneny, Dawn Nagel, Natanella Elouz-Elias, Nick Provart and Anna Stepanova.

Registrations are open for our conference: The 'Black in Plant Sciences conference' with amazing speakers, opportunities to network and to grow as a community. Apply for travel awards and Join us as indicated below or visit our link @blackinplantsci.bsky.social

Remember, tomorrow (Thursday) at 2pm, join us in the anatomical theatre for a great discussion about "Building a diverse community through effective teaching & mentoring"
#ICAR2025

It is great to be able to share time with our two Research Excellence Awardees for @blackinplantsci.bsky.social ! They will go places!!! @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social and @ Charlene Kunaka-Dambire

The Plant Cell is accepting applications for Assistant Features Editors | Plant Science Today Are you an early career researcher passionate about plants and science communication? The Plant Cell is accepting applications for new Assistant Features Editors (AFEs) to begin in 2026 and 2027.

I would love to talk to interested PhD students & postdocs about the wonderful @theplantcell.bsky.social Assistant Features Editor program!
It's largely a volunteer position but great training & networking opportunity. Applications being accepted! #ICAR2025
blog.aspb.org/the-plant-ce...