Biological Sciences (Plant Science)

Plants are fundamental to our survival, providing oxygen, food, materials and medicines, underpinning habitats, engineering soils and acting as major carbon sinks.

Advances in plant science have revolutionised our understanding of the world, and saved millions of lives from starvation. As we face a future with an increasingly variable climate, it is important to find ways to feed more people with fewer resources, whilst maintaining natural diversity and minimizing our negative impact on the planet.

Whether your interests are in pure or applied science and whether you prefer to work at the environmental, organismal or molecular level, now is an exciting time to be a plant scientist. Plant science research leverages state-of-the-art advances in sequencing, imaging and molecular biology to:

• understanding plant diversity and evolution

• identify new medicines

• engineer crops to have better yields both on earth and in space.

Plant science is also at the heart of controversial debates relating to genetic modification, gene editing and habitat reconstruction.

We have a strong international reputation for plant science research and offer many research opportunities. This ranges from fundamental topics, such as how plants sense time, to applied studies on the future of food production and the biotechnological use of plants as vaccines.

We study plants ranging from single-celled algae, to liverworts, snapdragons and crop plants to answer a wide variety of biological questions.

There is close collaboration with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Your final year project can be based there, or at one of the many plant research institutes in the area.

Flexibility

Biological sciences explores the study of living organisms, covering everything from the interactions of animals in their environment to how genes are expressed.

We offer a flexible learning experience. With 12 different biological sciences subject areas, you can tailor your programme to your preferred career path. Regardless of your initial application choice, you will have the opportunity to explore aspects of each of our programmes in the early years and can choose to specialise in whichever one interests you.

Our skills-based curriculum will equip you with data analysis, programming and problem-solving skills, as well as teaching you effective communication, and independent thinking. This will prepare you to be a part of the next generation of scientific thinkers who apply their skills in various contexts.

Programme benefits

• Study on a flexible programme. Explore different areas of biological sciences before specialising in the later years of your degree programme.

• You will learn in state-of-the-art laboratories, interactive computing studio facilities, and collaborative lecture theatres, ensuring a dynamic and immersive study experience.

• Experience hands-on learning with fieldwork at local sites such as the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh.

• Gain key skills valued by employers such as communication, collaboration, problem solving and data analysis.

• We have a strong international reputation for plant science research and offer many research opportunities, including an independent research project in your final year.