Key Dates
31 January 2025: Applications Close
26 February 2025: Interviews
17 March 2025: Announce Award Winners
16 – 20 June 2025: ICAR2025
Full guidance
The Black in Plant Science (BiPS) network aims to connect, celebrate, and cultivate existing and aspiring UK-based Black researchers working with plants. The goal is to promote the creation of inclusive environments where everyone can participate equally, where everyone’s voice matters and where everyone benefits.
Supported by the Gatsby Foundation and the Association of Applied Biologists (AAB) on behalf of the Multinational Arabidopsis Steering Committee (MASC), we are inviting applications for the BiPS Research Excellence Awards.
The BiPS Research Excellence Awards celebrate high quality, impactful research in the plant science discipline carried out by early career Black and Black heritage researchers across the UK. The awards also celebrate outstanding contributions to promoting the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) within their research communities.
Award winners are invited to attend ICAR 2025: the 35th International Conference on Arabidopsis Research which will be held at the Bijloke Gent Music Centre in Ghent, Belgium from 16-20 June, 2025. Travel and accommodation costs will be covered by BiPS and the Gatsby Foundation. We thank The Association of Applied Biologists (AAB) for providing free registrations to the event and for inclusion of awardees in the professional development program.
About International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (ICAR)
The draft scientific conference program for ICAR 2025 is currently being developed and includes 21 invited speakers in 6 plenary and 2 Keynote sessions. There will be additional 18 mini symposia and 8 workshops. There are also several special events planned for conference attendees, including scientific poster sessions, a welcome reception, a late afternoon boat trip, a conference dinner party with a band and disco!
Visa Requirements
Please be aware that you must contact the Belgian Embassy as soon as possible to obtain your visa in a timely manner. It is the responsibility of the applicant to cover their visa expenses as these will not be covered by the award.
Belgium is in the European Union so if relevant, delegates will need to apply for a Short Stay Schengen Visa. Updated information about applying for a Schengen VISA can be found here.
The organisers of ICAR2025 can provide a letter of invitation once a delegate has registered for the event. It is possible to register without immediate payment for the meeting.