Opportunities in Botany and Mycology

Careers in the biological sciences could involve research, teaching, business, and many kinds of natural resource management and environmental protection. Essentially, all humans are dependent on plants, fungi and other organisms for their survival. Consequently, acquiring and applying new knowledge about soils, forests, prairies, and biological diversity is critical to our welfare. Careers in agronomy, forestry, horticulture, rangeland management, and environmental science help provide food, shelter and clothing. Basic research is conducted by plant physiologists, mycologists, ecologists, geneticists, cell biologists, and others employed by industry, government agencies, and universities.

All physicians, dentists, nurses, and medical technicians must have a solid background in biology, and there are many aspects of health-care that require botanical training. Many diseases are caused by bacteria, protists and fungi. Also, many of the medicines we use were originally supplied by plants and fungi. Aspirin and penicillin are well-known examples. With bacteria rapidly becoming immune to antibiotics, scientists trained in mycology and plant systematics are scouring the earth for organisms with new disease-fighting traits.

A rapidly growing career track is environmental science, particularly in business and industry where good environmental practices cut costs and increase consumer loyalty. Professionals in this area study ecology, which is the science of the relationships among organisms, the land, climate, and other environmental characteristics. Global climatic change caused by greenhouse gases is a major environmental challenge and requires new ideas if our standard of living is to be maintained.

Education is a popular career choice for those studying biology. Teachers in public schools and at colleges and universities often find plants and fungi to be excellent examples for teaching biological principles. Other careers in education involve becoming naturalists or environmental education specialists for state and federal agencies, or at museums, zoos and nature centers. Journalists with biology backgrounds are well prepared for informing the general public about new developments in science.

For Additional Information:

The University of Wyoming has a Career Services Center

You may request a booklet from the Botanical Society of America entitled, "Careers in Botany, A guide to working with plants," from:

The Business Office, Botanical Society of America
Department of Botany, Ohio State University
1735 Neil Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210

You may also contact the BSA by phone: 614-292-3519, E-mail, or visit the BSA Web Site

Opportunities in Botany and Mycology

For Additional Information:

Also, check out the following WWW sites for more information:

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