Study Area: Plant Science
Overview
Many of the contributions plants make to life on earth are well known. Perhaps not so obvious is their significance in understanding the ongoing process of genetic evolution, their role as living links to ancient earth and their potential to contribute to the medical world. We still have much to learn from plants.
New research methods, powerful instruments and fresh ideas are transforming how biologists study plants, from the molecular mechanisms of cells to the ecological dynamics of the biosphere. Developmental botanists are using DNA technology to unravel the development of the flowers. Taxonomists are reassessing plant classification by applying new methods and data for measuring evolutionary relationships. Plant ecologists are analysing field data by coupling computers to remote environmental sensing instruments placed in tropical forests. Plant physiologists and biotechnicians are engineering plants to improve agricultural productivity.
Botany at JCU covers the broad areas of aquatic and terrestrial plants, plant ecology, plant taxonomy, physiology (function), evolutionary relationships and diversity as well as climate change, conservation and management.
Undergraduate Degrees
Postgraduate Options
Postgraduate Coursework Degrees
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Graduate Certificate of Science (Tropical Ecology and Conservation)
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Graduate Diploma of Science (Tropical Ecology and Conservation)
Postgraduate Research Degrees
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Graduate Certificate of Research Methods-Science and Engineering
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Postgraduate Diploma of Research Methods-Science and Engineering
Research
Career Opportunities
Botanists are employed in a range of roles (researchers, education and extension, conservation managers, consultants), government departments and industries. They can choose to be generalists, specialists, or researchers (with further study), in areas such as:
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agriculture, forestry and plant breeding
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weed control
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species identification, recording, history and presentation
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conservation