Training & Education

I want to learn Botany...

Identification Courses

The BSBI supports the Certificate in Biological Recording and Species Identification run by the University of Birmingham in conjuction with the Field Studies Council. In this programme, many BSBI recorders and referees teach botanical identification to a professional standard, and the learning outcomes are measured using academically rigorous assessments. Visit the University of Birmingham web site to find out more.

>> Programme list for 2009

Masters Degree

If you want to proceed to more advanced scientific work, there is also an MSc programme that covers techniques such as data management and research methods. It is suitable for those wanting to work in consultancy, records centres, government agencies or academia.

Training grants

Grants of up to £200 are available for aspiring botanists who want to go on short training courses. You do not need to be a member to apply. Typical applicants would include recent graduates looking to start a career in botany, or take part in interest-led botanical recording. The next deadline for applications is 6th February 2010. The application form will be posted here closer to the time.

Study Grants

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Study Grants of up to £1,000 are available to botany students.

>> Download the application form.

Conference Bursaries

Students can apply for bursaries towards the cost of conferences.

>>> Download the form (rtf format).

Resources for beginners

A leaflet written by Clare O’Reilly with suggestions for beginners on how to get started in botany.

Careers Advice

Are you hoping to study to be a botanist but don't know what degree to take or how to specialize? Download the Connexions Botany Careers Leaflet here.

Schools

For a web site aimed at school age children, visit SAPS.

 
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BSBI Library

The BSBI Library is hosted for us at the University of Birmingham’s premises in Shrewsbury. It is entirely dependent on donations, and we can make a commitment to retain books in perpetuity, as much as is reasonably possible. We also digitize our own publications, copies of which are held in the library.

If you are interested in donating to the library, please contact Sarah Whild.

We are grateful to the following for donations...

  • Brynmor Jones Library, University of Hull
  • CEH Monks Wood
  • Chris Boon
  • Karl Crowther
  • Trevor Dines
  • Bob Ellis
  • Jean Green
  • Simon Leach
  • Roy Maycock
  • Richard Middleton
  • Richard Pankhurst
  • James Partridge
  • Sharon Pilkington
  • Richard Pryce
  • Clive Stace
  • Wiltshire Botanical Society
  • Goronwy Wynne

and to the estates of...

  • Alice Lambert
  • John Lavender
  • John Ounsted
  • Melody Ryle
  • Max Walters

Qualifications

A Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) is a simple, affordable test that determines your botanical skill level on a scale from 1 (beginner) to 7 (expert). They are becoming established as the industry standard for assessing botanical survey skills.

The aim of the FISC is to measure your skills in real-life situations. Each test consists of a lab session, where the candidates are asked to name fresh specimens of 30 species collected around the British Isles. This is followed by a site survey. The whole test lasts half a day and is set at an affordable price of £50.

The outcome of a FISC is evidence of your level of competence, which can be used on a CV or to help you plan further training. From the point of view of the BSBI, the FISCs help to break down resistance to quality control, which is identified as an impediment to progress is botany.

Who are they for?

FISCs are fun as well as challenging. They are for anyone who wants to know roughly how good they really are at botany - whether for professional development or amateur interest.

Because there is no failure, you don’t have to be brilliant. The outcome will be a certificate from the BSBI showing your level of skill, with advice about what sort of activity you are competent to undertake and what further studies you need if you wish to progress up the skills ladder.

Further information

The programme for 2009 is now available. There are two FISCs scheduled, for Saturday 27th June and Thursday 16th July, both in Shrewsbury.

>>> FISCs 2009

>>> Booking Form

 

Training & Education Committee

Members of the committee are: Sarah Whild (chair), Sue Townsend (secretary), Paul Ashton, Michael Braithwaite, Clare O’Reilly, Richard Gornall, Brenda Harold, Alex Lockton, Anthony Nixon & David Pearman.