Company/Organisation Profile

The Botany Department was founded in 1711. We are a leading centre of teaching and research in plant sciences. Our interests range over the areas of plant systematics, plant community ecology, and environment and sustainability.

We study plants because they are of vital importance; as the source of all our food, the oxygen we breathe and most of the medicines we use. They are central to the processes of global climate change and to the provision of food and energy for an expanding human population. In the face of such change their conservation is increasingly vital.

Placement Details

The Department of Botany hosts transition year students for a week long structured work experience programme in Botany that covers the range of activities of the Department. Students have the chance to experience what happens behind the scenes in an active research environment, working alongside technical staff, PhD students and professional scientific researchers.

In addition to working at the Trinity Botanic Gardens, students have the chance to extract DNA in the molecular laboratory; to examine plant/animal interactions; to examine seed germination and storage using the Irish endangered plant seed-bank; to measure, in the field, critical environmental parameters and to work in the internationally important Herbarium. In addition, transition year students will meet with staff and attend presentations. Students seeking further information should contact their transition year coordinator.

What is Botany?

Botany is the scientific study of plants. These studies are pursued in the field, in the botanic garden and in laboratories. Plants range from the largest forest trees to single-celled algae of fresh and marine waters. The study of plants is of vital importance; they are the source of the food we eat, the oxygen we breathe, most of the medicines we use, and are core to the understanding of the processes of global climate change.

Dealing with the threats from global climate change will be one of the biggest challenges of this century. Human manipulation of plants in the future will need to provide food and energy for an expanding human population whilst conserving the biodiversity of living organisms and integrity of habitats.

How to Apply

Applications for our Transition Year Programme can be found here.