Study of plants | All about becoming a successful Botanist!

You can fulfill your passion for knowing about different plants by flourishing as a Botanist. The study of plants is an ever-growing field of study. Besides making you aware of nature as a whole, it also paves the way for several lucrative career options in the future.

So, bookmark this tab if you want to know all about pursuing Botany as a career.

What is the study of plants?

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The study of plants (Botany) is one of the oldest branches of Science but is not limited to plants only. If seen in its entirety, Botany also includes the study of fungi and algae.

The word botany was coined from the Greek word ‘botanĜ’, which includes everything from herbs and grass to fodders and pastures. A scientist who has specialized in the field of study of plants is called a plant scientist or botanist.

The History! 

The study of plants rose and was given importance since prehistoric times. It started with the early humans trying to learn and differentiate between the edible, useful, and poisonous species of plants. Later, an increased interest in cultivating species of plants useful to humans led to further development in this field. The importance of the study of plants was such that almost all places of worship came with their own garden of herbs and medicinal plants in the yesteryears. 

Gregor Mendel was one of the earliest persons to have experimented with the growth and nature of plants. He created several hybrid progenies of the same plant, which had stark differences in their properties. 

There are hundreds of thousands of species of plants on this planet that are yet to be discovered despite the advancement in technology. Aquatic plants in the Mariana Trench and the phytic growth in the scorching heat of the hot springs are some examples of many unexplored or less explored areas. 

Even with the species of plants that we are familiar with, new properties are being discovered about them every day. This is happening due to various reasons, such as mutation and natural selection.  

What does a Botanist do to study plants?

A person who studies plants and their properties does not necessarily have to collect different strains of plants all day. Nor does he/she spend the rest of their lives in a remote location.

In fact, Botanists are responsible for conducting demographic surveys, collecting seeds, and efficiently preserving them for future use. A crucial job for people who study plants is to document whatever they observe every day, even if it seems not that significant initially.

The study of plants is such an extensive field of education that one can even choose to study the cells of plants as a career. It is ideal for people genuinely interested in plants and their life cycle. As a result, they will be able to pursue education or work a full-time job in a field that they are passionate about.

As an aspiring botanist, you need to have strong analyzing and evaluating skills along with an observant eye. Also, the study of plants does have some essential fieldwork, which has to be completed in the formative years of study.

Leading universities that offer the study of plants

Some of the popular universities that offer courses related to the study of plants are listed below. We recommend you go through the eligibility criteria of the universities and choose the best fit for you.

1. Columbia University, USA
2. Yale University, USA
3. Stanford University, USA
4. Australian National University, Australia
5. The University of Manchester, UK
6. McGill University, Canada

Eligibility criteria 

While the eligibility criteria for pursuing a degree in Botany differs for universities, the basic requirements are as follows: 

Requirements for Bachelor of Science-Botany

• Completed 10+2 with Biology, Physics, and Chemistry subjects. 
• English language proficiency score (IELTS/TOEFL/etc.)
• SAT/ACT score
• LOR
• SOP

Requirements for Masters of Science-Botany

• Completed 10+2 with Biology, Physics, and Chemistry subjects.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field in Science from an accredited institution. 
• English language proficiency score (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE)
• GRE score
• Work experience, if needed
• LOR
• SOP

Career options after pursuing Botany

You can choose from a variety of career options after pursuing the study of plants. Let us explore some of them and the average salary in those fields.

Jobs	Average Salary (in USD)
Ecologist	78,591
Taxonomist	85,100
Plant Biochemist	55,114
Cytologist	61,070
Morphologist	75,150
Plant physiologist	82,087

What’s next?

Knowing about the vast array of career options after a degree in Botany and the leading universities that offer the courses is quite empowering. This helps eradicate the misconceptions and hesitations that you might have before committing to the field. Remember, the study of plants is just as rewarding as any other field. In fact, due to it being largely research-based, it is also a satisfying field when intensive research finally brings in the desired outcomes. 

So, are you ready to choose the best university for you to pursue this course? If you need any assistance in this process, then feel free to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help! 

FAQs

Q1. What is the average salary of a person who studies plants for a living?

Answer- Since the study of plants is a vast field, the salary of a botanist depends upon the field of work they choose to pursue after completing their degree. On average, a botanist earns anything between $58,117 and $86,842 a year. 

Q2. What skills should a person aspire to study plants possess?

Answer- A person aspiring to pursue the study of plants must have an observant eye. Besides, they must have good analyzing and evaluating skills as well. Sometimes it takes days or even months to get the outcome of an experiment. So, one should be consistent with the efforts and not give up easily.

Q3. How many years does it take to complete a bachelor’s degree in the field of plants?

Answer- A Bachelor of Science in Botany usually spans three years. On the other hand, a Bachelor in Biotechnology requires four years. 

Q4. Can a person do a Doctorate in the study of plants?

Answer- Ph.D. in the field of botany is a sought-after degree. Therefore, such courses are available in almost all major universities.