Department of Botany news
13 Jul 2026
Two rare collections in one tickled-pink building
The unassuming pink building at 464 Great King Street contains a botanical wonderland, complete with climate-controlled...
01 Jul 2026
Murder no mystery for professor in the study with the seaweed
Though the brown-thumbed among us might disagree, Associate Professor David Burritt claims that “when you want to kill a...
29 Apr 2026
New discoveries in desert of snow
Associate Professor Linn Hoffmann, a biological oceanographer from the Department of Botany, wasn’t expecting to be in t...
13 Mar 2026
Seeking out sycamore
It’s a team player in the forests of Europe but in Aotearoa New Zealand’s native bush the sycamore could well take over.
05 Dec 2025
School farm sparks passion for agriculture and plant science
If someone had told Phoebe Hunt (Ngāti Rangiwewehi) when she was still at school that she would graduate with a Bachelor...
18 Nov 2025
Eminent Otago scientists receive BLAKE awards
Emeritus Professor Sir Alan Mark has been awarded the 2025 BLAKE Medal, alongside three other Otago researchers who rece...
10 Nov 2025
Botany collections growing global audience
Details of the botanical treasures of the Otago Regional Herbarium, located in the Department of Botany, are now availab...
04 Nov 2025
International Adaptation Futures Conference inspires Otago researchers
Otago researchers recently attended the international Adaptation Futures Conference as the flagship event of the United...
28 Oct 2025
First Freshwater Forum builds connections
The inaugural Freshwater Forum recently hosted by the University of Otago, brought together freshwater scientists and co...
11 Aug 2025
Sciences recognise staff with continuous service awards
Long-serving staff in the Division of Sciences have been recognised for their dedicated service to the University in the...
12 Jun 2025
Emeritus Professor Nancy Longnecker – a career communicating science
What began as a passion for plants led to a productive and fulfilling career in science communication for Emeritus Profe...
03 Apr 2025
Championing the ‘cute underdog’ of the plant world
There’s more to mosses than most might imagine, PhD candidate Jess Paull says.