Botanists are biologists who specialize in the study of plants. Botany is a vast subject in which they work. It includes the investigation of much greater than 300,000 plant species, spanning from ground-hugging orchids to massive redwood trees. Furthermore, there are several approaches to the investigation of animals and plants. Botanists generally focus on one species of plant or set of plants or one method of studying plants. Most botanists study characteristics that are common to all species of plants. Plant taxonomists, for example, are experts in identifying and categorizing species. They occasionally go into uncharted territory in search of new plant species. Plant physiologists are specialists in plant life processes. They research how plants reproduce, develop, and generate food. The effects of temperatures, moisture, sunlight, and various environmental elements on plant biological functions are of interest to plant epidemiologists. Botanists that specialize in economic botany look to find and create plants that may be marketed as food, medicines, textiles, or other valuable products. Botanists come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some plant biotechnology employees in related fields specialize in putting academic researchers' discoveries into practice. Agriculture, preservation, ecology, horticultural, and fertilizer application are some of the sectors in which they operate.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must possess at least 50% aggregate from a recognized institution in 12th, from any board PUC/CBSE/ICSE/ISC, etc. However, the cut-off margin varies with the selection process of different colleges. Only a science qualification is viable to pursue a degree in science.
• Should procure a valid score in entrance exams such as JEE-Main, KIITEE, SRMJEE, CEE, HITSEE, CET, etc., Different colleges offer their own entrance exams if you don't have a satisfactory score in JEE or other competitive exams - colleges like NMIMS, Symbiosis International University, XUB, Andhra University, LPU, etc. Every state offers their own entrance exam as well.
• One must earn a degree in B.Sc/B.Tech or a Diploma to become a Botanist. This is a basic qualification you must require to enroll in this line of work.
• An M.Sc in Botany can also prove to be helpful while looking for a higher degree and better learning.

Tasks to perform

• To assess the usage capacities of soils and the effects of different approaches on soil production, investigate how soils respond to certain management techniques.
• Perform study to identify the most effective ways to transplant, fertilize, cultivate, gather, store, prepare, or transport agricultural goods.
• Discuss the consequences of soil issues and alternative remedies with designers or other technical professionals who work in the development industry.
• In categorization, enumeration, charting, general environmental evaluations, national environmental management, watershed management, or redevelopment making preparations, examine untouched or damaged areas.
• Establish efforts to enhance the biochemical, microbiological, or physicochemical features of deteriorated or polluted soils.

Knowledge required

• Legal System – Awareness of statutes, political systems, court processes, jury decisions, federal regulation, executive actions, department guidelines and the constitutional legislative process is needed in politics and government.
• Incorporation and Governance — Utilizing concepts of business administration associated with tactical planning, distribution of capital, optimization of human resources, leadership strategies, methods of production, and organization of resources and manpower.
• Biological Knowledge — Awareness and a brief understanding of the working principles behind different genera and species of animals and plants, their interaction with the environment, relationship with the ecosystem, etc.
• Medical Expertise — Brief understanding of procedures and methods to identify and attend to injuries, diseases, disorders, etc. This also includes alternate treatments to offer to the subject, symptoms seen, drugs used to reduce or cure sickness and offer preventive measures to reduce its circulation.
• Chemical Dexterity — Able to understand the chemical structure and composition of substances available in the environment. Includes the understanding of changes, interactions between different substances, methods of production, and safe disposal of toxic substances.

Skills required

• Rational interpretation – Use of rationality and inference to distinguish the positives and disadvantages of creative improvements, assumptions, or responses to situations.
• Time Management — Interacting and switching between different tasks and activities without consuming excess time to provide results.
• Method of Learning — Practises and processes for selecting and implementing strength and conditioning approaches and techniques that are suitable for the case when learning or introducing new items.
• Surveillance — Entails keeping track of and evaluating your own, other people's, or organisations' results in order to make changes or take disciplinary measures.
• Critical Analysis — Learning and identifying the strengths and weaknesses along with providing solutions and countermeasures to reduce the impact of potential problems.

Job roles offered

Once you procure the required qualifications for becoming a Botanist, a myriad of options are open to you. There are multiple projects you can undertake throughout this line or work, and there are many other fields you can branch out to.

• Crop Doctor: Crop doctors are agronomists who deal with vegetables for energy, nutrition, and environmental restoration. Agronomists are researchers who research vegetation and environment to enhance oil production, create better cultivating, seeding, and gathering procedures, enhance crop, germination percentage, and nutritious characteristics of products, and address farming industry challenges. They are specialists in soil conservation for land acquisition and agricultural development, with a focus on improving agricultural manufacturing and agricultural biological content. Agronomists are interested in the concepts of land administration and extension services in areas and experiments.
• Horticulturist: A horticulturist is a person who cultivates and propagates plants using academic assistance, and then utilizes that expertise to give detailed details to apple, vegetables, and flowers producers, and also ranchers. Horticulture will investigate pests and diseases and test new disease-resistant plant types. They will occasionally engage in the medical field of environmental design, creating gardens, leisure spaces, and parks to preserve our national environment. They might also engage in the industrial business, helping to restore degraded terrain.
• Beekeeper: Beekeepers, also known as apiarists, are responsible for managing and maintaining honey bee populations that generate honey and pollinate crops. A beekeeper's principal objective is to maintain hives healthy and prolific so that nectar and other consumables such as paraffin may be produced. A beekeeper's responsibilities include analyzing the hive's health, checking for mite infestations, evaluating and managing the hive when health issues develop, and keeping thorough records of the hive's health, medicine administration, and honey output. A beekeeper may even be in charge of eating queens, maintaining and rebuilding hives, rearing and changing queen bees, separating colonies as needed, and repairing combs. Some beekeepers have direct access to honey manufacturing and bottling machinery.
• Entomologist:An entomologist is a scientist who specializes in the study of insects. Entomologists investigate the taxonomy, growth stage, dispersion, metabolism, behavior, economics, and population structure of insects, among other things. Entomologists also research and manage municipal parasites, woodland pest problems, plant diseases, and medicinal and veterinarian pests. Medicinal insects such as beekeepers, silkworms, ladybird beetles, and predatory insects may be used by these researchers. Entomologists work for commercial firms, universities, and governmental organizations as scientists, lecturers, and consulting. Researching and comprehending the anatomy, behaviors, life cycles, physiology, and categorization of mosquitoes, as well as exploring various forms of pharmacological and mechanical controls, are all part of an entomology research career. Important info is becoming increasingly important in providing answers to complicated issues and difficulties concerning entomology.
• Pomologist: Pomologists research the science of fruit growth and use what they learn to build fruit manufacturing techniques. They must also be knowledgeable in plant science and meteorology. The job prognosis is mediocre, and pomologists must have a bachelor's degree or above. A pomologist is a researcher which is in charge of assuring the proper development and reproduction of berries, nuts, and the shrubs and trees that they thrive upon. Pomologists work for the government, schools and universities, commercial research institutions, and agricultural groups, and may be found in labs, vineyards, conservatories, and on farmland.

Career opportunities

Botanists can opt for various fields of work in the companies listed below:

• Annova Solutions
• Quality Council of India (QCI)
• Practically
• Amazon
• Bharathiar University
• Genpact
• Entab
• Aakash EduTech Private Limited
• Thomson Digital
• Foursis Technical Solutions

Colleges offering courses

• Fergusson College, Pune
• Mount Carmel College, Bangalore
• Hindu College, Delhi
• PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore
• St Joseph's College, Bangalore
• RUIA College - Ramnarain Ruia College
• KJ Somaiya College of Science and Commerce, Mumbai
• Hansraj College, Delhi
• PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore
• Government Holkar Science College, Indore