Bioscience Summer School for Undergraduate Students
The Gatsby Plant Science Education Programme an exciting bioscience summer school for undergraduate bioscience students from 30 universities around the UK:
Gatsby Plant Science Summer School (GPSSS)
For the curious who haven't yet explored plants
The school is free to attend thanks to generous funding from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation. It's a unique opportunity for first year (or second year in Scotland) students studying at the below UK universities, to discover the challenge and opportunities of studying plant science, through talks from leading scientists, careers sessions, eye-opening workshops and thought-provoking discussions with researchers and peers. It's a welcoming and supportive environment to make new friends and connections.
Alongside the annual summer school, the Gatsby Plant Science Education Programme periodically develops additional activities to reach wider student audiences. In recent years, one example of such an initiative has been Rootstock, a summer school designed for plant enthusiastic bioscience students to delve deeper into the fascinating realm of plant science.
How to apply
You can apply for the summer school via your Gatsby Mentor.
Gatsby Plant Science Summer School 2026
Discover the World of Plant Science
For undergraduate bioscience students who haven’t explored the world of plant science but are curious about it. Join us for an immersive experience that will spark your interest in the green world. The 2026 GPSSS will take place at the end of June, beginning of July.
What to expect at the 2026 GPSSS
The summer school is a fun, relaxed and social week-long programme incorporating lectures, tutorials, practicals and careers information.
- Hear from the UK's top scientists on global challenges and science’s biggest questions
- Develop your skills for research, study and work
- Get inspiration and insight into future careers
The Gatsby Plant Science Summer School (GPSSS) is now in its 22nd year. It was established by the University of Leeds in 2005 and is now part of the Gatsby Plant Science Education Programme (GPSEP) at the University of Cambridge (since 2014).
“GPSSS is a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn more about plant science and gain new perspectives about academia.”
GPSSS 2024 student attendee
“I came here not knowing what to expect and being nervous about everything but all of the events have helped those nerves disappear and have captured me into the world of plant biology firmly now.”
GPSSS 2025 student attendee
Past GPSSS lectures
You can view lectures from past years on the Gatsby Plant Science Education Programme YouTube channel.
Seeing light & feeling heat – how plants sense & adapt to a changing environment - Eirini Kaiserli
More information
For more details download the 2025 GPSSS information for students and programme (PDF 221KB)
Contacts
The project manager for the GPSSS is Claire Pennycuick, and the project coordinator is Yulia Lapko. If you have any additional questions about the GPSSS, please contact Yulia via email at gpsep@botanic.cam.ac.uk.
Support & Accessibility
Venue has accessible facilities, and individual needs can be discussed. Students can speak to their Gatsby Mentor about bursaries, access arrangements or any barriers to attend.
Recruiting students to join the summer programme
The recruitment of students for GPSSS is aided by Gatsby Mentors working in the participating Universities. A full list of the mentors is provided below. Students can find out more about the summer schools by contacting the Gatsby Mentor at their university.
Professor John Doonan (Aberystwyth University)
Professor Jim Murray (Cardiff University)
Dr Miguel De Lucas (Durham University)
Dr Tolga Bozkurt (Imperial College London)
Dr Mike Roberts (Lancaster University)
Dr Patricia Lopez-Calcago (Newcastle University)
Professor Verena Kriechbaumer (Oxford Brookes University)
Professor Alessandra Devoto (Royal Holloway University of London)
Dr Gareth Norton (University of Aberdeen)
Dr Paula Kover (University of Bath)
Dr Daniel Gibbs (University of Birmingham)
Professor Jill Harrison (University of Bristol)
Professor Julian M. Hibberd (University of Cambridge)
Dr Piers Hemsley (University of Dundee)
Dr Ben Miller (University of East Anglia)
Dr Andrea Paterlini (University of Edinburgh)
Dr Pallavi Singh (University of Essex)
Dr Mike Deeks (University of Exeter)
Dr Eirini Kaiserli (University of Glasgow)
Dr Stefan Kepinski (University of Leeds)
Dr Sinéad Drea (University of Leicester)
Dr James Hartwell (University of Liverpool)
Dr Jon Pittman (University of Manchester)
Professor Zoe Wilson (University of Nottingham)
Dr Francesco Licausi (University of Oxford)
Dr Jonathan Mitchley (University of Reading)
Professor Katie Field (University of Sheffield)
Professor Matthew Terry (University of Southampton)
Professor Alex Jones (University of Warwick)
Dr Liz Rylott (University of York)