A student team from the University of Aberdeen’s School of Biological Science were crowned the winners of the recent Botanical University Challenge.
The Botanical University Challenge, now in its eighth year, was held at the University of Cambridge last month, and saw 30 teams put their botanical knowledge to the test to secure the title.
The competition consists of a series of questions covering all areas of botanical knowledge, including identification, taxonomy, evolution, ecology, conservation, phytopathology, horticulture, agriculture, plant biochemistry and physiology, and, finally, the role of plants in popular culture and human history.
The Aberdeen team was made up of PhD students Max Fontaine and Santiago Castaño Sirosi who travelled to Cambridge from their field sites in Borneo and the Andes respectively in order to represent the University at BUC. Completing the team was Undergraduate BSc Plant and Soil Science students Amy Beach, who has just completed her second summer working as a gardener in the Cruickshank Botanic Garden, Justin Saddler and Taran Murphy. The Aberdeen win also made competition history as it is the first time the trophy has travelled north of the border.
Dr Martin Baker from the University’s School of Biological Sciences said: “We are all incredibly proud of the team, who all performed magnificently at the Botanical University Challenge.”
Professor David Burslem, Interdisciplinary Institute Director – Environment & Biodiversity at the University, added: “The competition was of an extremely high standard – among the formidable opponents were Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford and the Eden Project, all of whom stood out as favourites to win and so it is a testament to Max, Amy, Justin, Taran and Santiago that they emerged triumphant. Congratulations to them all!”
More than 100 students from UK and Irish Universities attended the Challenge and the Student Botany Festival that ran alongside the event.
