News of the Wild

New Degree Program to Cultivate Plant Scientists

The Chicago Botanic Garden and Northwestern University are partnering to offer the nation’s first Master of Science degree in plant biology and conservation — a unique interdisciplinary program designed to educate the next generation of plant scientists.

“This new program is urgently needed to produce conservation biologists who will help anticipate and prevent the potential loss of plant species and the valuable genetic and chemical information they contain,” said David Lentz, vice president of scientific affairs at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Students in the program will study populations of endangered plants — their genetics, the environmental changes to their habitats, and their potential for reintroduction. The degree requires five core courses, four electives, independent research, and a thesis and can be finished in four or five quarters. Molecular biology, biostatistics, and plant science will be at the curriculum’s core; the independent research component will provide students with opportunities to work on “real world” conservation and botanical problems. Classes will meet at Northwestern and the Chicago Botanic Garden and be taught by faculty from biology, environmental studies, anthropology, archaeology, engineering, and economics.

The first class of graduate students will enroll in fall 2005. For more information on the program, call (847) 491-4031, or visit the Web links above.