What is it?
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Quite simply, plant biology is the scientific study of plants. The interests
and expertise of plant biologists are quite varied, including molecular biology
and biotechnology, evolution and ecology, and landscape and ecosystem biology.
As plants are the foundation of nearly every ecosystem on the planet, and agricultural
advancements are the basis of modern society, it is not surprising that plant
biologists are often in high demand. Plant biologists may work outside as land
managers, researchers, agronomists and foresters, environmental consultants,
and artists. Inside, they may be museum curators, researchers, governmental
officials, and teachers.
The Plant Biology program at the University of Alberta provides a core of fundamental
courses in the biology of all organisms traditionally considered plants and
then, on top of this, allows considerable flexibility in course selection so
that students can customize their degree according to their own interests. There
are no formal streams in this program but course selections permit students
to pursue Plant Biology on a variety of fronts including ecology, molecular
biology and physiology, morphology, systematics and evolution.