SDG Detail

BIOSCI 323 : Plant Diversity

Undergraduate course

Project description

We offer a welcoming, inspiring and intellectually challenging course exploring the fascinating diversity, evolution and relationships of plants. BIOSCI323 celebrates diverse people and diverse plants - we strive for a welcoming, safe, and accessible class. Our fieldtrips are accessible daytime excursions (no overnight or evening activities). We are inspired by a tuakana-teina approach in which the knowledge of all students and staff is valued and can be shared. We focus on plant groups and the drivers of plant diversity, especially in Aotearoa. We explore phylogeny, evolution, morphology, human use of plants, and plant-animal interactions, within a framework recognising the diverse cultural value of plants, and the importance of plant conservation. Our course is designed for students interested in a career involving botany, ecology, plant biology, plant taxonomy or plant structure and function. Future careers could be in applied research or management of plants, e.g. for biosecurity, conservation, horticulture, or food production, or theoretical studies of plant diversity, evolution, or botany in general.

Year 2022

Location New Zealand

Organization University of Auckland

Project aims

Project outcome

By the end of this course, students will be able to: Describe how plants are classified, the key features of the major plant groups, and how their relationships and traits define taxonomy. (Capability 1) Analyse how plant diversity is affected by plant traits, distributions, and interactions with other plants and animals. (Capability 1 and 2) Characterise the deep cultural value of plants from M?ori and diverse international perspectives, the key threats to plants, and how these inform our approaches to studying and conserving plants. (Capability 4, 5 and 6) Employ professional skills in researching, discussing, and writing about contemporary taxonomic and conservation issues in botany. (Capability 2, 4, 5 and 6) Apply best practice methods for finding, collecting, identifying, and archiving plant specimens accurately and ethically. (Capability 1, 5 and 6)