[Taxacom] Master course at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Louis Ronse de Craene LRonsedeCraene at rbge.org.uk
Mon Dec 3 07:58:10 CST 2018


MSc Degree/Postgraduate Diploma in the Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh/ University of Edinburgh

Programme Philosophy
The MSc in Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants is a full one-year master course established by the University of Edinburgh and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) in 1992 to address the growing worldwide demand for trained plant taxonomists and whole-plant scientists.
Since then the course has developed into the ideal platform for the study and understanding of plants and their conservation. The RBGE course is unique in its broad approach with a strong emphasis on plants and their identification.  Students will also have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of a two-week field trip to Colombia to undertake tropical plant identification.

The MSc is ideal for those wishing to develop a career in many areas of plant science:
            Survey and conservation work in threatened ecosystems
            Assessment of plant resources and genetic diversity
            Taxonomic research
            Management of institutes and curation of collections
            A stepping stone to PhD research and academic careers

The course and students benefit widely from the close partnership between RBGE and the University of Edinburgh (UoE). RBGE has one of the world's best Living Collections (>15,000 plant species across our four specialist Gardens - 5% of world species), an Herbarium of three million specimens and one of the UK's most comprehensive botanical libraries.  The School of Biological Sciences at UoE is a centre of excellence for research in Plant Sciences and Evolutionary Biology. Recognised experts from RBGE, UoE, and from different institutions in the UK deliver lectures across the whole spectrum of plant diversity. Most course work is based at RBGE, close to major collections of plants, but students have full access to the extensive learning facilities of the university.

Edinburgh is a unique place to study plant taxonomy and diversity.  RBGE is one of the top four botanic gardens in the world and a global leader in plant science and conservation.  The organisation dates back to 1670 and will celebrate its 350th anniversary in 2020.  Edinburgh, Scotland's capital city, is also a unique and vibrant city in which to live and study, welcoming students from around the world.

Aims and Scope
The MSc provides biologists, conservationists, horticulturists and ecologists with a wide knowledge of plant biodiversity, as well as a thorough understanding of traditional and modern approaches to pure and applied taxonomy. Apart from learning about the latest research techniques for classification, students should acquire a broad knowledge of plant structure, ecology, statistical methodology, and plant identification.

Programme Structure
This is an intensive twelve-month programme and involves lectures, practicals, workshops and essay writing, with examinations at the end of the first and second semesters. The course starts in September of each year and the application deadline is normally 31 March.

 Topics covered include:

            Evolution and biodiversity of the major plant  groups, fungi and lichens
            Plant geography
            Conservation and sustainability
            Production and use of floras and monographs
            Biodiversity databases
            Phylogenetic analysis
            Population and conservation genetics
            Tropical field course, plant collecting and ecology
            Curation of living collections, herbaria and libraries
            Plant morphology, anatomy and development
            Molecular systematics

Fieldwork and visits to other institutes are an integral part of the course.  There is a two-week field course to Colombia in which students are taught a unique approach to tropical plant identification using mainly vegetative characters, field collections, and ecological survey techniques.   The summer is devoted to three months of a major scientific research project of the student's choice or a topic proposed by a supervisor. These research projects link in directly with active research programmes at RBGE.

Entry Requirements
Applicants should ideally hold a university degree, or its equivalent, in a biological, horticultural, or environmental science, although any well-motivated applications from other fields will be considered, as we are looking above all for candidates having a genuine interest in plants.  Relevant work experience is desirable but not required.  Evidence of proficiency in English must be provided if this is not an applicant's first language.

Funding
There are a few funding options from the University of Edinburgh.  Other international funding bodies have supported overseas students in the past.

Further Information
For further details on the programme, including a course handbook, please visit the RBGE website:
https://www.rbge.org.uk/learn/professional-courses/msc-postgraduate-diploma-in-the-biodiversity-and-taxonomy-of-plants/ or https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/postgraduate/degrees/index.php?r=site/view&edition=2018&id=1

If you have any questions or queries, you are most welcome to contact the Course Director at RBGE, or the Postgraduate Secretary of the University of Edinburgh:

MSc course Director, Dr Louis Ronse De Craene
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Tel +44 (0)131 248 2804
Email: lronsedecraene at rbge.org.uk<mailto:lronsedecraene at rbge.org.uk>

Postgraduate Program Secretary, The University of Edinburgh
School of Biological Sciences
The King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, UK
Tel +44 (0)131 650 8643
Email: andrea.nichol at ed.ac.uk<mailto:andrea.nichol at ed.ac.uk>


To apply online, please go to:
https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/postgraduate/degrees/index.php?r=site/view&edition=2018&id=1
and click on the link.

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