The University of Warsaw Herbarium is already 210 years old, and its collection includes around 750,000 plant specimens from Poland and many other parts of the world. Some of its earliest collections come from Michał Szubert, the founder of the University of Warsaw Botanic Garden, who brought several thousand plant specimens from Paris – many of which are still preserved at the University today.
The Herbarium is not only a historical collection, but also an important scientific resource used and protected for research purposes. Now you can join the team helping to preserve it for future generations of researchers.
What will you do as a volunteer?
Your main task will be to mount plant specimens and their labels onto acid-free sheets, helping ensure that they can be safely preserved in the collection.
The work is:
- hands-on and calming,
- focused on precision and consistency,
- suitable even if you have no specialist knowledge of botany,
- a real contribution to the preservation of the University’s scientific collections.
A Herbarium Without Borders
During the volunteering sessions, you may work with specimens collected in Poland, Europe, Africa, both America, Oceania and even Antarctica! Each session can therefore bring something completely different.
From time to time, you may also come across real “mystery boxes” – packages whose contents remain unknown until they are opened during the session. Many specimens are over 100 years old, and some are still separated by old newspaper clippings. Alongside the plants, you may therefore discover articles, advertisements and pieces of everyday life from decades ago – and quite literally touch history.
What will the cooperation look like?
We are planning:
- one in-person meeting per month,
- around 5 hours of volunteering per session,
- meetings at the Biological and Chemical Research Centre of the University of Warsaw (CNBCh) in Ochota (next to the Faculty of Biology building), Żwirki i Wigury 101,
- long-term cooperation.
Introductory meeting: 29 October 2026, around 09:30 AM.
Further dates will be agreed together with the group – we want the schedule to be easy to combine with studies and other commitments.
Who are we looking for?
The opportunity is open to the entire University of Warsaw community.
You do not need to study biology or have any botanical knowledge. What matters most is attention to detail, patience and curiosity about what is hidden in the University’s collections.
How can you apply?
Send an email to wolontariat[at]uw.edu.pl with the subject line “UW Herbarium”, including:
- your name and surname,
- information on whether you are available for the introductory meeting on 29 October.
Applications are open until Thursday, 22 October 2026.
Join our volunteering for science initiative and help us preserve a collection that has been documenting the plant world for more than two centuries. 🌿
