Student Originated Studies: Botany, Herbology, Horticulture

Description

This SOS offers opportunities for well-prepared students to create their own course of study and research. In addition, at least four credits of each student's work will be in collaboration with other students in the program. Group activities will include seminars, workshops, lectures and weekly meetings. Student project work will be presented in a symposium at the end of the quarter.

Several research topics are of particular interest to the faculty member. Groups of students working together on community-based projects such as installing edible or medicinal landscaping on campus or other public educational institutions, propagating prairie plants for local ecological restoration efforts, or creating plant-themed public art for the Evergreen Teaching Gardens will be given priority, as will students interested in conducting research on exotic invasive plant species common to the Puget Sound region to determine how they might benefit humanity through sustainable enterprise. This might take the form of exploring the medicinal uses of weedy species like dandelion or the use of Scot's broom for biofuel production. Students interested in honing their botanical illustration skills that propose to work from herbarium specimens to create illustrations for the Puget Prairie Flora and/or Sun Lakes State Park Flora projects and groups wanting to study the history and practice of herbology will receive serious consideration during the signature review process. Students seeking to explore the gender dimensions of botany as a discipline are encouraged to submit a proposal.

Prior to fall, interested individual students or small groups of students must consult with the faculty sponsor about their proposed projects and/or internship plans. The project and/or internship is then described on the appropriate contract form (in-program Internship or Individual Learning Contract) and submitted electronically as a draft contract. While this program is primarily aimed at juniors and seniors, first-year students and sophomores may be admitted if they can demonstrate through the signature process that they are ready for the work.