When are we going to stop living like we have another planet to move into?
Now, I am not sure if they included related degrees, like horticulture & environmental science.
Some of the most effective treatments for illness and infectious disease are based on plants, and we have only identified a small portion of them.
That’s tragic!
Who is pushing these students?!
We should tell them to stop pushing or even pass an anti-pushing law.
Yeah, because we need another law.
I should have become a botanist. I am fascinated by plants.
This trend has besen a show motion diaster for decades. The rain forrests are still disappearing, too. I can’t remember the numbers but an alarming percentage of the world’s plant species live in rain forrests, and many are yet undiscovered, as you’ve already pointed out. The problem with degree programs closing is that it may stem from a lack of jobs for graduates with botany degrees, though I can’t say this with certainty. I would think the pharmaceutical industry has a vested interest in discovering plants that can be used for new, and more effective drug treatments and regimens. What are they doing to address these issues? Where do most botany jobs exist nowadays?
We are seeing a rapid decline in our bee population as well, another trend that shows no sign of stopping. I guess people will stop and notice when all their favorite fruits and vegetables are scarce, or priced like gold ingots 8-|
Sad, EK! I really enjoyed my college botany class. The diversity of plant life is mind-boggling!
Sadly, the US is not the only country that is doing this. During the WWII, Vavilov’s team of scientists died of starvation protecting their collection of seeds during the blockade of Leningrad - and in the modern times, this collection was almost destroyed by the oligarchs:
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/sep/20/campaign-russia-pavlovsk-seed-bank
Apparently, the plans for big development were pushed back after a media outcry.
It’s a shame I like plants and plant diversity. Maybe I should study this when I retire.
I haven’t had kids in K-12 for seven yrs, but if anything the focus on increasing technology in schools and processes that can be measured, have only increased.
When kids have been attending STEM schools since at least middle school, how likely is it that they will be interested in, or even have the broader perspective to value, other fields in college?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/technology/technology-in-schools-faces-questions-on-value.html?_r=0
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-bill-gates-pulled-off-the-swift-common-core-revolution/2014/06/07/a830e32e-ec34-11e3-9f5c-9075d5508f0a_story.html
Universities still offer agriculture programs, but I wonder how many of those are geared towards developing strains of corn and soy that will be resistant to pesticides.
I think some of the classes have transitioned into environmental or horticulture classes. Also sustainable agriculture is big, but we need more degrees in Ethnobiology.
http://ethnobiology.org/about-ethnobiology/what-is-ethnobiology
There are actually environmental jobs out there, but they aren’t as talked about as much as IT.
http://www.bu.edu/cecb/resources/career-resources/
It’s remarkable that everyone talks as if it was up to someone else.
Do you all live in energy efficient homes?
Drive EVs?
Practice recycling and conservation?
Teach your kids to value education other than STEM?
Show by example the value of community?