Biodiversity Challenge
Thursday, 30 April, marks the start of the Biodiversity Challenge—the bioblitz hosted by Wageningen University & Research. Until Tuesday, 2 July, we will be spotting as many species as possible across all our locations.
The Biodiversity Challenge is the annual bioblitz of Wageningen University & Research. In May and June, students, staff, and visitors work together to spot as many wild species as possible on our campus and other university locations. This helps raise awareness of biodiversity in our immediate surroundings.
In 2026, the bioblitz will once again be accompanied by a full programme of excursions and activities on the Wageningen campus. In addition to creative workshops and species identification sessions, students will organise lunchtime lectures. Student associations will invite speakers from their field of study who work in the field of biodiversity. We will also open the outdoor exhibition Ever Changing Biodiversity. Through 18 species from the Wageningen area, the exhibition tells the story of life that either benefits from or is harmed by human influence on the environment.
This year, the Biodiversity Challenge will also be held at more than 50 other educational institutions and schools.
The activity programme for the Biodiversity Challenge 2026
You can take part in a host of activities during the full length of the bioblitz. Please let us know if you want to join in.
| Date and time | Activity | Meeting point |
|---|---|---|
30 April: 16:00 – 18:00 | Opening Biodiversity Challenge & Photo Exhibition | Impulse, Speakers Corner (Stippeneng 2) |
7 May: 12:15 – 13:15 | Excursion to food forest Droevendaal | Kielekampsesteeg 32 (bicycle shed) |
12 May: 6:30 – 8:30 | Early bird watching around the Leeuwenborch | Hollandseweg 1 (entrance Leeuwenborch) |
13 May: 12:15 – 13:15 | Excursion: How can we improve biodiversity on campus? | Droevendaalsesteeg 4 (statue De Zaaier near the Atlas building) |
20 May: 12:15 – 13:30 | Botanical drawing | Orion, room C5030 (Bronland 1) |
21 May: 12:00 – 13:00 | Excursion: the fascinating colours of nature | Droevendaalsesteeg 4 (statue De Zaaier near the Atlas building) |
22 May: 12:00 – 13:30 | Excursion: plant parasites, an often unseen species group | Droevendaalsesteeg 4 (statue De Zaaier near the Atlas building) |
27 May: 12:00 – 13:30 | Learn everything about the nature garden behind the Lumen building | Droevendaalsesteeg 4 (statue De Zaaier near the Atlas building) |
3 June: 12:15 – 13:15 | Botanical walk | Hollandseweg 1 (entrance Leeuwenborch) |
10 June: 12:15 – 13:15 | Nature Connectedness Session | Droevendaalsesteeg 4 (statue De Zaaier near the Atlas building) |
11 June: 7:00 – 9:00 | Early bird watching on Campus Wageningen | Droevendaalsesteeg 4 (statue De Zaaier near the Atlas building) |
16 June: 12:15 – 13:15 | Writing with nature | Droevendaalsesteeg 4 (statue De Zaaier near the Atlas building) |
25 June: 12:00 – 13:00 | Excursion to WUR's worm hotel | Droevendaalsesteeg 1 (entrance Radixgebouw) |
- Date and time
30 April: 16:00 – 18:00
ActivityOpening Biodiversity Challenge & Photo Exhibition
Meeting pointImpulse, Speakers Corner (Stippeneng 2)
- Date and time
7 May: 12:15 – 13:15
ActivityExcursion to food forest Droevendaal
Meeting pointKielekampsesteeg 32 (bicycle shed)
- Date and time
12 May: 6:30 – 8:30
ActivityEarly bird watching around the Leeuwenborch
Meeting pointHollandseweg 1 (entrance Leeuwenborch)
- Date and time
13 May: 12:15 – 13:15
ActivityExcursion: How can we improve biodiversity on campus?
Meeting pointDroevendaalsesteeg 4 (statue De Zaaier near the Atlas building)
- Date and time
20 May: 12:15 – 13:30
ActivityBotanical drawing
Meeting pointOrion, room C5030 (Bronland 1)
- Date and time
21 May: 12:00 – 13:00
ActivityExcursion: the fascinating colours of nature
Meeting pointDroevendaalsesteeg 4 (statue De Zaaier near the Atlas building)
- Date and time
22 May: 12:00 – 13:30
ActivityExcursion: plant parasites, an often unseen species group
Meeting pointDroevendaalsesteeg 4 (statue De Zaaier near the Atlas building)
- Date and time
27 May: 12:00 – 13:30
ActivityLearn everything about the nature garden behind the Lumen building
Meeting pointDroevendaalsesteeg 4 (statue De Zaaier near the Atlas building)
- Date and time
3 June: 12:15 – 13:15
ActivityBotanical walk
Meeting pointHollandseweg 1 (entrance Leeuwenborch)
- Date and time
10 June: 12:15 – 13:15
ActivityNature Connectedness Session
Meeting pointDroevendaalsesteeg 4 (statue De Zaaier near the Atlas building)
- Date and time
11 June: 7:00 – 9:00
ActivityEarly bird watching on Campus Wageningen
Meeting pointDroevendaalsesteeg 4 (statue De Zaaier near the Atlas building)
- Date and time
16 June: 12:15 – 13:15
ActivityWriting with nature
Meeting pointDroevendaalsesteeg 4 (statue De Zaaier near the Atlas building)
- Date and time
25 June: 12:00 – 13:00
ActivityExcursion to WUR's worm hotel
Meeting pointDroevendaalsesteeg 1 (entrance Radixgebouw)
Everyone can join in
The Biodiversity Challenge is open to students and staff, as well as alumni, residents of Wageningen and the surrounding area, and anyone else with an interest.
In 2025, 614 observers recorded 1,732 species on WUR grounds. Many colleagues and students took part in excursions on the WUR campus, including nine led by student guides. NIOO also organised an excursion at its site across from the WUR campus.
From WUR, the Biodiversity Challenge has been expanded to other educational institutions in the Netherlands, organisations in the ICA Life Science Universities network, and the municipality of Wageningen. In this way, we inspire a growing number of people to feel a sense of wonder for nature, including in environments not typically seen as natural. hope this will encourage people to help protect the nature around them.