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Help me be a botanist!

13 years ago

Hey everybody, my name's John. I live in the Panhandle of FL currently, and I've always been interested in botany. The problem is, I have no direction or idea of how one gets started doing it professionally. I understand science, I love nature, I'm great at math (statistical analyses? Yes please!), and I have a green thumb, but I still don't even know where one gets started in botany.

I think what I'm looking for is a mentor. I've been in the Air Force for 4 years, where on-the-job training is a big aspect of our technician culture. From that, I've seen that just jumping in and "getting your hands dirty" helps the initial learning process much more than any book could. Books, databases, scientific articles, etc. are there as SUPPLEMENTS to actual field work. It should not be the other way around.

So I want to find some field work in my area. This idea honestly just occurred to me this morning. I think I want to consult the local colleges and universities about this on Monday, but until then I saw no harm in throwing a posting up here. Can anybody connect me with a mentor or point me in the direction of field work around where I live? Fort Walton Beach, FL. It's near Pensacola.

Thanks :D

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Comment (1)

taxonomist
13 years ago
What I believe you are looking for is How to become a horticulturist,not a botanist. The two are not the same. Botany today encompasses the sciences of plant anatomy, physiology,taxonomy, genetics, and several others. Botany is not a simple,clear-cut science. It is complex and becomes more so each year. It is also a most satisfying study and provides many days of pure pleasure. I would suggest consulting a botany instructor at a local college-level school who might well offer valuable advice.
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Botanists do a lot of different things. Included in the science of plants are many sub-specialties such as taxonomy, genetics, physiology, ecology and others. In addition, the allied field of horticulture is the application of plant science to crop production. From there, you can pursue plant propagation, plant breeding, crop production, landscaping and more. If you have some idea of what you would like to do as a botanist, it would help to match you with someone of similar interests. Ideally, it would be best to do more than correspond and if you can find someone near you to hook up with, I think it would be a lot more rewarding for you. I found a couple of links that I hope are helpful. There is a large organization (2700 members) called the Botanical Society of America. Their website is: www.botany.org. They have a page you might be interested in called Careers in Botany - http://www.botany.org/bsa/careers/ Also, I found that there is a Southern Appalachian Botanical Society which includes your area. Either one of these organizations should be able to help you and may be worth your time to join. Good luck. --Bob Here is a link that might be useful: Southern Appalachian Botanical Society
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