Botany is the branch of Biology dealing with plant life. It’s a science in which Botanists explore the ecological and biological systems and processes that sustain a plant’s ability to thrive—such as the water cycle, photosynthesis, and others. Botany is also referred to as Plant Science or Plant Biology, and includes any and all categories of plants from trees and flowers to algae and fungi.

Plants are incredibly important to the environment, and in turn to everyday human life. Budding Botanists can look forward to contributing to fields of science, medicine, cosmetics, biofuels, agriculture, and environmental protection.

There are a number of jobs in the field of Botany that are open to various levels of education. Some of them include Academic Journalist, Biologist, Airport Wildlife Biologist, Aquatic Biologist, Environmental Quality Analyst, Farm Manager, Fish and Wildlife Technician, Medical Cannabis Professional, Municipal Park Ranger, Wetland Scientist, and other related careers.

As the world population grows and the need for food supplies increases, Botany learners will continue to be in demand. The continual need for new drugs and medicines also opens up employment opportunities for those who want a career in Botany.

Botany courses offered through Coursera cover the latest research in plant genetics that delve into the world from a plant’s point of view, including how they know up from down; how they know when neighboring plants are in distress; how they grow and develop; how they create air for us to breathe; how humans can farm plants sustainably; and other related Botany topics.