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Who is a Botanist?
Botany the eldest daughter of medicine ~ Johann Hermann Baas
In a career as a botanist, individuals are experts on plant life and organisms. Do you like to be around the greenery? Or do you like to be outdoors gazing at several plant species? What if you can get paid to be around them and know them more, it is true, that is what a botanist does. It is his or her job to explore several plants, find new ones and study the harmful effects of pollution on plants.
Not only that, but a botanist also studies plants and their parts for medicinal purposes or if they are fit for human consumption and several such tasks. Botanists work in colleges and universities where they conduct research. While some are employed by government agencies. Students can pursue a Botany course to opt for a career in botany in India. Although their jobs may differ widely, most botanists are scientists who carry out research at least some of the time.
Here, in this article, we will discuss the details about how to become a botanist in India, botanist qualification, botanist roles and responsibilities, botanist skills and botanist eligibility.
Botanist in a Nutshell
It is necessary to score well to have a better future as a Botanist. Various government jobs for botany graduates in India such as the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), and Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFR) offer numerous jobs for a Botanist every year. Having a career in botany requires the appropriate education as well as persistence, attention to detail, and a keen interest in evaluating numerous aspects of plant life.
Quick Facts for Botanist
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Suitable for
Male, Female
An individual from any gender can become a botanist. This field is not gender-specific. Anyone with the right attitude and skill can become a botanist.
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Any special needs
Yes
This career is suitable for candidates with special needs as long as the disability does not hinder the daily functioning of the professional. As long as there is no effect, anyone can become a botanist.
Table of Contents for Botanist
What is the role of Botanist?
Are you wondering how to become a Botanist in India or what botanist roles and responsibilities are then we have provided here all the answers to your questions. Individuals who opt for a career as a botanist work in a wide variety of settings. They also focus on the agricultural applications of plants used for making food, fibre, fuel, turf, and cover crops, studying their responses to stress from pests, disease, and climate variations. Botanists work on plant breeding to develop harder strains and conduct experiments to enhance the yield, disease resistance, drought resistance, or nutritional value of crops.
The important work of botanists is critical to the environmental conversation. Careers in botany and horticulture also include ecological work, managing a botanical collection, searching for new species, and identifying, classifying, recording, and monitoring plant species and biodiversity.
Collection
The role of a botanist is to collect all sorts of plants to identify their properties and for research purposes. The collection of various samples of plants for testing purposes forms an essential part of the botanist's job profile. From a garden to the deep within the jungles, botanists collect specimens from all sorts of environments to understand particular properties.
Monitoring
The botanist roles and responsibilities also include monitoring different plant species in order to understand their physical properties. In order to fully understand how a bio-organism works, continuous monitoring is required of the specimens that have been collected. This monitoring can range from a few hours to a few days, weeks and even months in order to fully understand the functioning of a plant.
Surveying
The role of a botanist is to surveying forms an important part of a botanist’s job. He or she carries out an environmental survey to identify plant species, their natural habitat, and other aspects related to plant life.
Breeding
Botanists are also responsible for breeding and developing crops that are less susceptible to diseases, pests, drought or other natural or man-made calamities. With the rise in population and the changing weather conditions, it is essential to produce a resilient breed of crops.
Types of a Botanist
Below we have listed some of the types of botanist and botanist career options.
Airport Wildlife Biologist: A qualified airport wildlife biologist helps to ensure passenger safety by analysing potential wildlife hazards at airports and recommending strategies that can be implemented to reduce the attractiveness of that airport to wildlife that could pose a risk to human life and aircraft.
Aquatic Biologist: Aquatic biologists study organisms in lakes, streams, ponds, oceans and other bodies of water. Biologists specialise in species based on their environment. Because of the number of bodies of water on Earth, as well as the vast diversity of organisms that live underwater, projects and roles do vary.
Environmental Quality Analyst: Environmental analysts examine and study the interaction of the environment and people, as we live, pollute and change the earth. Environmental analysts may work in the public or private sector, analysing data about different topics such as soil, water, air pollution, geology, or hydrology. A bachelor's degree in environmental science or a related major is typical for entry-level positions.
Farm Manager: A farm manager is responsible for the management and general maintenance of a farm. On a crop farm, a farm manager will supervise the fertilising, planting, spraying, cultivating and harvesting procedures of crops.
Fish and Wildlife Technician: Wildlife technicians help with data collection. This typically means inventorying wildlife populations, trapping and tagging animals, and taking blood and tissue samples. They may also collect samples of water, soil, and plants. Wildlife technicians evaluate the health of animals, looking for signs of illness. They are often responsible for caring for captured animals.
Laboratory Technician: Lab technicians are skilled workers that work with complex systems or perform highly technical mechanical or diagnostic tests in medical or scientific laboratories. Depending on the field, technicians may work independently or under the direction of a professional
Wetland Scientist: A wetland specialist works in the natural science profession assessing the health of wetlands and determining through field experimentation how human and natural activities influence a wetland's physical conditions.
What is the workplace/work environment of Botanist like?
Working conditions vary widely throughout the field. In a career as a botanist, individuals work indoors in clean, well-lighted laboratories. Others spend much of their time outdoors or in greenhouses. Some botanists need to travel from time to time to sites where they can collect plant specimens
Does Botanist require travelling?
Likely
Individuals who opt for a career as a botanist need to travel from time to time to sites where they can collect plant specimens.
Employment Shifts
Full Time
Their working hours are generally flexible but sometimes have to work rotating shifts.
Employment Nature
Permanent
In a career as a botanist, individuals need to have a permanent working employment nature.
Work Place
Private Offices Factory, On-Field, Laboratory
Individuals who opt for a career as a botanist need to work in Laboratories, On-Field maintenance and Private Office Factory for checking the new development and health condition of plants.
Presence in Geographical Area
Semi-urban
Urban environments pose unique challenges to any plant. Cities are generally warmer, have significantly higher CO2 levels, and experience altered levels of disturbance and precipitation patterns than do rural areas nearby. urban plants produced far more seed than their rural counterparts. This very well may be due to the fact that urban plants tended to be larger.
Time Pressure
Likely
Time pressure is quite active for botanists. Apart from performing their own research and work, they are also required to supervise and verify the work done by their team members. Hence, botanists work under a lot of time pressure.
Overtime Details
The allotted working hours for botanists is nine hours per day typically. But because of the responsibilities assigned to them, they work overtime for half the time in a month.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 40 Hours
In careers as botanists, individuals often work more than forty hours a week.
How to become a Botanist?
Steps to become a Botanist
Being a Botanist is a rewarding career as you can provide cures for Cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Dementia by discovering novel chemical molecules. If you are someone who loves to discover novel chemical molecules that helps to overcome infertility issues then a career as a Botanist is the best option for you. If you are looking for the details on how to become a Botanist in India, then we have mentioned below the steps for how to become a Botanist in India.
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Botanist?
You must be wondering how to become a botanist in India or what are the botanist skills. So, in this section, we will be answering the most commonly asked question that how to become a botanist in India and botanist skills. In order to make a career in botany and horticulture, one must possess some skills. Some botanist skills that are required to function effectively are mentioned below:
Scientific Skills: Individuals who opt for a career as a botanist should have knowledge of biology and chemistry, which are the core subjects of botanists. The aim of scientific literacy is to allow employees to use the skills of scientific processes; basically to be able to identify the issues concerning them, evaluate, observe, hypothesize, analyse and implement new information they have with the skills that are needed.
Research Skills: The research's main objective is to explain the action, demonstrate a concept, and lead to the improvement of knowledge in a profession or study. A resource for knowledge-building, development, and implementation. It focuses on understanding and increasing public awareness of various major problems. Strong research skills help with projects. It helps in understanding the plants better.
Evaluation Skills: Evaluative skills should be used to validate the authenticity of assertions made or posted by individuals, and to enhance the relevance of reasoning displayed by individuals when making an argument or giving explanations. The accuracy of claims and the integrity of speakers and authors can be measured by people with decent assessment skills. Critical assessment skills involve analysis, review, perception, assessment, judgment, inference, description, problem-solving, and decision-making. Individuals always need to pay attention to details, and what the other person is saying. It might be useful in your work.
Problem-Solving Ability: Problem-solving skills involve the ability to cope with challenging or unpredictable workplace situations, as well as complexities regarding business problems but here, for this profession, it is regarding the plants. Institutions count on people who can analyse all types of problems and find solutions in a rational way. In a career as a botanist, individuals should know how to handle difficult or unexpected situations while working outdoors/field.
Communication Skills: Communication is important to the transferring of knowledge from one place, individual to another. Each interaction requires one transmitter, a text and a receiver. Which may look easy, but interaction is, in reality, such a complicated matter. Communication skills are a must, one must know how to communicate with others, Explain in a way that people can understand. Use simple language while communicating.
Attention to Detail: Eye for detail is the ability to perform a task with attention and accuracy. Attention to detail is helpful because it makes avoid mistakes and makes the work environment extremely easy. Paying attention to the smallest details will translate your ability to analyse and solve problems, especially small troubles. One mistake can lead to incorrect information, one needs to be accurate and pay attention.
Patience: Patience is not the secret to success but a secret to achieving your goals. Patience often allows one to achieve a positive outlook with an optimistic attitude. It also makes the work easier and much more productive. Patience is how an employee do the effort and they need to accomplish their objective. Patience is the ability to calmly wait, without worrying. A person should know how to react in difficult circumstances.
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Botanist?
We have mentioned below certifications that aspiring individuals can opt to upgrade their skill sets to perform efficiently as a botanist.
| Diseases of horticultural crops and their management | Plant Pathology and Soil Health |
| Plant Cell Bioprocessing | Plant Design and Economics |
| Plant groups |
Internship Availability
Internships provide you with valuable experience and expertise that can help you secure your dream (R&D) job in the biotechnology industry. Whether an internship is paid or unpaid, it does not change its value. It is an investment in your future. The best part about internships is that it teaches students about the specific industries and institutes they are interested in.
Companies are much more likely to hire a candidate having internships and practical knowledge rather than a candidate with a generic resume, lacking experience. Internships provide you with the base you need for your future. So it is very necessary to choose job opportunities for botany graduates their interest. A Botanist internship will help you in building your stores so that when you are ready to go on job hunting, you have the skills, experience, desire, and confidence to make it happen. Read further to know more about how to become a botanist in India.
What is the job outlook for Botanist?
Not all botanists get jobs of their choice, as it depends on how skilled they are at what they do. Organisations/industries usually hire those who have requisite formal academic qualifications in botany or allied subjects with relevant work experience. The demand for a career in botany in India is increasing significantly in various applications, including skincare, health care, functional food, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics, due to the growing awareness of its health benefits among consumers.
Also, improper use of antibiotics causes certain bacteria strains to develop resistance, which further leads to fatal consequences. These instances have encouraged the demand for career opportunities for botany graduates and plant-based medicines and supplements. Herbal medicines are witnessing an increasing preference as they mainly protect from several infections and are considered better alternatives for existing and emerging antimicrobial drug-resistant (ADR) pathogens. Scroll down to read how to become a botanist in India.
Frequently Asked Questions for Botanist
Que. Should I study botany?
Ans.Botany is important primarily because it is the scientific study of plants, which are in turn used in many aspects of human life. Botany is an important field of science that is very much related to plants. Botanists interested in ecology study the interactions of plants with other organisms and the environment.
Que. Is Botany a growing field?
Ans.Plant science is a growing field as more and more people recognise how vital plants are to several aspects of society. However, some areas are more competitive than others.
Que. What is the oldest branch of botany?
Ans.The oldest branch of botany is plant taxonomy, which is the classification, naming and description of plants.
Que. Which is harder botany or zoology?
Ans.However, the idea that botany is more complex than zoology is not universally true. And in zoology, there are vertebrates and invertebrates. Those classical portions are a little bit boring. There are many difficult terms and they are hard to remember.
Que. How long does it take to become a botanist?
Ans.To become a Botanist, it will take between three to five years. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in BSc Botany or a Bachelor of Science in Botany will take 3 years.
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Questions related to Botanist
which has better scope and is more interesting botanist or biochemist or pharmacist
Of all the fields that you listed to study the one that will generate a lifetime of earnings is the B. Pharma with appropriate licensing to dispense ethical drugs. All other studies need either further education or a unique niche job to move ahead like if you go with botanist and biochemist you end up with research studies which is also good if you are interested Your choice should depend on your interests, aptitude, and career goals.
Answer laterHello Sir/Maam , Can I take only PCB to become a botanist? or is math really important to become a botanist?
Hello,
Yes, absolutely! You can opt for Physics, Chemistry and Biology as the subjects for pursuing Botany as they are the only main subjects you need for it. Mathematics is not required if you want to pursue BSc in Botany. There is not much relation between Maths and Botany.
Hope this helps,
Thank you
Question : Directions: Select the option that is related to the third word in the same way as the second word is related to the first word.
(The words must be considered meaningful English words and must not be related to each other based on the number of letters/number of consonants/vowels in the word.)
Plants : Botanist :: Animals : ?
Option 1: Chemists
Option 2: Geologists
Option 3: Archaeologists
Option 4: Zoologists
Correct Answer: Zoologists
Solution : Given:
Plants : Botanist :: Animals : ?
Like, the scientist who studies plants is known as a Botanist.
Similarly, the scientist who studies animals is known as Zoologists.
Hence, the fourth option is correct.
I am aiming to become a botanist but what should I do after completing the 12th PCB boards exam?
Hi,
it's very good that you want to become a botanist for that you have to attend a entrance exam according to the university .eligibility for botanist is that individual must score minimum 50% on average or above for the 10+2.But most of the universities admissions are taken through merit .for more details of the admissions and course syllabus details please check the below link mention below
https://www.careers360.com/courses/botany-course
All the best!
I am in 10th I have to become a botanist what shou i do?
Dear Aspirant
First in 11 class you have select pcb stream then after 12 class you have to give neet exam then apply for neet counselling on the basis of your neet rank to got the colleges and then you choose your course which want to study
Various botany-related courses in India:
• Bachelor of Science in botany (available as an honours degree too)
• Master of Philosophy in botany (available as an honours degree too)
• Master of Philosophy in life science (zoology/botany)
• Master of Science in applied botany
• Master of Science in botany and forestry
• Master of Science in botany (available as an honours degree too)
• Master of Science in herbal science
• Doctor of Philosophy in botany
• Doctor of Philosophy in life science (zoology/botany)
• Diploma in applied botany
• Postgraduate Diploma in life science
• Postgraduate Diploma in medical botany
• Postgraduate Diploma in plant biodiversity
• Postgraduate Diploma in plant tissue culture
If you want to know more about it check out the link given in below https://www.careers360.com/courses/botany-course
I hope it will help you
Thank you
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