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A
Job To Love
Imagine hiking through the rain forests
of Vancouver Island. The forest is thick
with trees, lichens, and mosses that
are hundreds of years old. Suddenly,
you spot the seed head of an interesting
looking plant on the forest floor. You
grab your digital camera and zoom in
for a close-up picture. Then, you reach
for an empty film canister that you’ve
brought to collect seeds in. Shaking
a few seeds into the canister, labeling,
and packing it into your bag, you’re
thrilled by the discovery. This seed
sample can now grow and be studied in
a laboratory. Who knows? It may even
offer the cure for any number of diseases.
Botanists
study plants and apply their knowledge
to teaching and research in agriculture,
horticulture, land use planning, conservation,
forestry, and medicine. They sometimes
work in laboratories, but are usually
outdoors doing fieldwork in forests,
deserts, and mountains. They work
on their own and as part of a team.
Many botanists live where they grew
up. In particular, Aboriginal botanists
can study how indigenous peoples have
used plants for food and medicine.
Working
in the beautiful outdoors sounds exciting,
but fieldwork can be tough. As a botanist,
you’ll live and work in remote
locations for weeks at a time. You’ll
be outside in extreme temperatures
and all kinds of weather. The living
conditions can be uncomfortable and
the work can be physically demanding.
You’ll be exposed to dangerous
wildlife and insects. But on the other
hand, if you love the adventure that
comes with making discoveries, this
is a great job for you.
Job
Description
Botanists study plant parts, the uses
of plants, and plant environments. They
travel to nature sanctuaries and forests
around the world to study plants in
the wild. They can specialize in many
different areas. For example, an Aboriginal
botanist might identify areas where
traditional plants grow and then protect
that area. Botanists work for environmental
consulting firms, farms, nature centres,
botanical gardens, and universities.
Job
Duties
- Study
the relationships between plants
and their environment
- Identify
and protect rare and endangered
plants
- Study
plants for use in drugs and medicines
- Find
ways to use plants in the production
of materials, such as paper and
rubber
- Determine
the effects of pollution on various
types of plants
- Study
environmental issues, such as foreign
plant species and their effects
on local plants
- Complete
grant applications to obtain research
funds
Fact
Common purple lilac, aspen poplar,
purple saxifrage, and white dryad
are just four of many plants being
tracked around the world so that people
can understand and monitor climate
change.
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High
school courses that will prepare you
for this job include biology, chemistry,
math, and English. Aboriginal studies,
history, and languages will prepare
you for working in a multi-cultural
setting. Talk to your career or academic
counsellor about options like computer
science, calculus, and geometry.
The
minimum education requirement for
a botanist is a bachelor’s degree
in biology or a related discipline.
Advanced degrees will make you more
competitive in the job market and
you’ll find it easier to get
a research job and negotiate your
salary.
Before
entering the workforce, botanists
might require training in:
- Global
Positioning Systems (GPS) use
- Orienteering
- Standard
and Wilderness First Aid
Look
into specific high school prerequisites
set by the college or university you
would like to attend.
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Botanists
with a bachelor’s degree make
an average of $32,000.00 per year.
Botanists with a graduate degree make
an average of $55,000.00 per year.
Botanists with several years of experience
and education make an average of $68,000.00
per year.
Financial Assistance
In addition to the general scholarship
tips listed in the BUILD MY CAREER
section, the following award is specific
to botanists:
The Jennifer Robinson Memorial Scholarship
$5,000.00 to a graduate student in
northern biology
Administered by the Arctic Institute
of North America.
Contact: Executive Director, Arctic
Institute of North America
University of Calgary
Calgary, AB
T2N 1N4
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Some
of the best knowledge you’ll
gain for this job will come from listening
to the stories and wisdom of your
relations. Ask your Elders how they
used native plants to treat ailments
and protect themselves from wild animals.
Ask your Elders which plants are best
to eat, which plants grow fastest,
and which plants only grow in specific
areas. Join your family on camping
and hiking trips. The time you spend
outdoors will make your studies easier
and your experience with the natural
world will appeal to employers.
Relate to people in similar jobs:
- Agricultural
technician
- Forester
- Forest
fire fighter
- Tree
planter
Relate
and interact with climate change specialists.
Ask them what they like about their
jobs, and how you should get started.
The Canadian Botanical Conservation
Network
Royal Botanical Gardens
P.O. Box 399
Hamilton, ON
L8N 3H8
Telephone: (905) 527-1158
Fax: (905) 577-0375
email: cbcn@rbg.ca
website: www.rbj.ca/cbcn
Relate to other students. There are
Aboriginal student associations and
resource centres at most universities.
Visit these centres to find out what
they have to offer. Also, look into
community, friendship, and multi-cultural
centres.
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