Educational: Botany is one of the preferred choices
of study among the science students. But it is necessary that the student
who learn botany has interest in plants and enjoy working with them. Minimum
requirement for a career as botanist is a bachelor's degree. However for
higher degrees you require to specialize in one of the many areas of botany.
Courses are offered at bachelor level, master level and doctoral level.
For bachelor course, the basic requirement is 10+2 science. After graduation,
one can go for post graduate and then doctoral course. Bachelor course
is of 3 years and post graduate course, of 2 years duration. You need
to study for an additional two to three years to obtain a doctoral degree.
After doctoral degree, one can work at the administrator level or teach
in institutes, or do research work. In this field, a botany student can
choose from many specialisations according to the area of interest. Each
area of specialisation concentrate on a particular subject necessary to
know about the plant.
Various specializations available at master and doctoral level are Plant
Taxonomy (classification of plants); Plant Pathology (study of plant diseases);
Plant Morphology (study of plant structures and organs); Plant Physiology
(study of the life processes of plants); Plant Genetics (study of heredity
in plants); Plant Ecology (study of the relationship between plants and
their environment); Ethnobotany (study of medicinal and food plants);
Paleobotany and Palynology (study of plant fossils); Economic Botany and
Weed Science (study of weeds).
Personal attributes: Main attribute required is a love for outdoors.
Botanists must have clear and concise verbal and written communication
skills, a high level of curiosity about the world around them, be creative
in solving problems and yet have a good understanding of the scientific
method and the rigors of scientific research. They should be detail oriented
in their work. Botanists must have good interpersonal skills, mental stamina
to work long hours. The ability to work with microscopes is important
as most of their work is in laboratory. Computer skill are also essential
to be in this scientific world. To keep up with new findings in plant
science, botanists must continue to study throughout their careers.
