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Vertically Integrated Projects - BioBlitz: UoB Campus

VIPs create sustainable, research-engaged communities of staff and students - both undergraduate and postgraduate - who work collaboratively on live projects.

A BioBlitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time (traditionally 24hours). The primary goal of a BioBlitz is to get an overall count of the plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms that live in a place. A campus BioBlitz was conducted between 29th June and 23rd July 2026 in which 10 ID session workshops were run with 6 different types of sessions: bird ID, fungi ID, liverworts ID, pond life under the microscope, wildflower ID and insect ID. These sessions were aimed at teaching ID skills to students and staff on campus, and gaining an appreciation for the campus’ green environment. Participants were taught how to use ID guides (FSC Wild ID, which are available to the public for a relatively small cost), Merlin bird audio app (free) and iNaturalist app (free). By encouraging people to use iNaturalist on campus, it encourages more records throughout the year, which can then be verified by staff on campus and the iNaturalist community. It also improves wellbeing, connection with nature, and sustainability mindset, which contributes to the positive action from the University Sustainability Team Report.

Aims:

  • Train students/staff to lead sessions, reducing time-pressure on academics who ran the June/July sessions

  • Increase participation to BioBlitz by encouraging students and staff from all departments to attend

  • Run at least one session per academic semester

  • Increase types of sessions run to decrease the current taxonomic bias

BioBlitz events have been run throughout the UK in Wildlife Trusts, ZSL and private land. The previous UoBath BioBlitz used iNaturalist (free app), which is the suggested app for these events.

Nature walks with a specialist around a set route around campus with iNaturalist app used to record observations, and Merlin bird app and FSC ID guides used to identify species.

Sustainable Development Goals

SDGs: 3 - Good health and wellbeing and 15 - life on land

Academic Director

Claire Tanner, Department of Life Sciences

Who can apply?

This VIP welcomes applications from all University of Bath students.

Project Update

This is a new project for AY2627

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