Gatsby Plant Science Summer School
Bioscience summer school for undergraduate students
The Gatsby Plant Science Education Programme hosts a summer school for undergraduate bioscience students from 30 UK universities.
The summer school is free to attend thanks to generous funding from The Gatsby Charitable Foundation.
This event gives first-year students (or second-year students in Scotland) at participating UK universities (listed below) an in-depth and engaging introduction to plant science, with a unique opportunity to meet and learn from researchers working in the field.
You will hear from leading scientists, attend careers sessions, and take part in practical workshops and discussions with leading academics and postgraduate research students.
The event provides a welcoming and supportive environment where you can make new friends and build connections.
How to apply
Contact the Gatsby mentor at your university (listed below) to apply for the summer school.
Gatsby Plant Science Summer School attendees and organisers out the front of the York venue.
GPSSS is a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn more about plant science and gain new perspectives about academia.
Gatsby Plant Science Summer School 2024 student attendee
Gatsby Plant Science Summer School 2026
Discover the world of plant science
This summer school is for undergraduate bioscience students who are curious about plant science but have not yet explored it. It offers an immersive experience designed to spark your interest in the subject.
The 2026 course will take place from late June to early July.
What to expect
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 is now in its 22nd year. It was established by the University of Leeds in 2005. It became part of the Gatsby Plant Science Education Programme (GPSEP) at the University of Cambridge in 2014.
More information
Download the summer school information and programme for full details.
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
Gatsby Plant Science Summer School 2025 student attendee
Past Gatsby Plant Science Summer School lectures
You can view lectures from past years on the Gatsby Plant Science Education Programme YouTube channel.
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Deepening engagement in plant science
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.
Contacts
The project manager for the Gatsby Plant Science Summer School is Claire Pennycuick, and the project coordinator is Yulia Lapko. If you have any additional questions about the summer school, please contact Yulia via email at gpsep@botanic.cam.ac.uk.
Support and 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 the Gatsby Plant Science Summer School 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.
Gatsby Mentors
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)