Projects in the Gardens:

If you plan to use the Botanic Gardens for research or teaching, student projects, or independent study, please fill out this form. This will help our staff keep track of requests and special usage (e.g. putting flagging on trees), so we can make sure your project does not get disturbed. You may also contact us at wcbg@wellesley.edu to discuss your needs and request resources from our staff (maps, plant identification, guided walk, etc.).
 

Courses

Wellesley College offers courses related to plants in many disciplines, from the arts and humanities, to social sciences and STEM.  The Botanic Gardens' outdoor gardens and greenhouses and available to support classes, research, and student projects, in many creative ways - send requests or questions anytime to wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu and we'll direct you to a Botanic Gardens staff member.

Some courses that work closely with plants include:

BISC 108  Environmental Horticulture with Laboratory (Prof. Kristina Jones)

This course will examine how plants function, both as individual organisms and as critical members of ecological communities, with special emphasis on human uses of plants. Topics will include plant adaptations, reproduction, environmentally sound landscape practices, urban horticulture, and the use of medicinal plants. The laboratory involves extensive use of the greenhouses, experimental design, data collection and analysis, and field trips. Not to be counted towards the minimum major in biological sciences. Prerequisite: Fulfillment of the basic skills component of the Quantitative Reasoning requirement. Distribution: Natural and Physical Science Semester: Spring Unit: 1.25

BISC 111 Introductory Organismal Biology with Laboratory (Multiple instructors)

A study of life, ranging from the physiology of organisms to the structure of ecosystems. The main themes of the course are evolution and biodiversity, form and function in plants and animals, and ecological interactions among organisms. The course provides the fundamental tools for exploration of organismal biology with the aim of enhancing conceptual understanding.
 

BISC 207 - The Biology of Plants with Lab (Prof. Kaye Peterman)
An overview of the physiology and development of land plants from the cell/molecular level to the whole organism. Topics include photosynthesis, transport systems, patterns and regulation of growth and development, and interactions with the environment – both biotic (pathogens, animals, other plants) and abiotic (light, water, temperature). Applied aspects including medicinal plants and the potential for biotechnology to increase food production in the face of climate change will be addressed. The investigative, exploratory laboratory sessions will provide an introduction to techniques currently employed in answering research questions ranging from the cellular to the organismal level.

 

BISC 308 - Tropical Ecology with Lab  (Prof. Martina Königer)

Tropical forests and coral reefs are among the most fascinating and diverse ecosystems, but unfortunately face an ever increasing number of threats. In this discussion based class, students present and analyze papers that illustrate how these ecosystems function, why they are struggling and what can be done to prevent further decline and to hopefully restore them. We will pay attention to the observational, experimental and analytical approaches that are used in this field of study. The week-long laboratory part takes place at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute in Little Cayman at the end of May. Students will have the opportunity to carry out their own research projects that they designed during the semester

Additional current and past courses connected to plants include:

ARTH 267: Arts & Environmental Imagination
ARTS 108: Photography I
ARTS 109: Two-Dimensional Design
ARTS 113: Three-Dimensional Design
ARTS 222: Print Methods: Typography/Book Arts

BISC 201 - Ecology with Lab
BISC 217 - Field Botany with Lab
BISC 301 - Plant Biotechnology
BISC 307 - Ecosystem Ecology with Lab
BISC/ES 247/347 - (Advanced) Plant Diversity and Ecology with Lab

ENG 242 - From 'Nature Poetry' to Ecopoetrics
ENGR 160 - Fundamentals of Engineering

ES102 - Environment and Society: Addressing Climate Change
ES103 - Environment and Society: Food, Agriculture, and Sustainability
ES107H: Creating Sense of Place: Antiracism, Belonging, and the Environment
ES125H- The Climate Crisis and the Liberal Arts
ES220 - The Ecology of Humans: Environmental Limits and Conservation with Lab
ES229 - Latin America: Topics in Food Systems and the Environment
ES234 - From Wilderness to Ruins
ES244 - Botany, Ecology, and Empire
ES327 - Topics in Biodiversity

GEOS 201 - Environmental, Health, and Sustainability Sciences
PHIL233 - Environmental Ethics
WGST328 - Natureculture: Feminist Futures and Environmental Justice

Research

Join a research lab or internship opportunity at Wellesley.  Contact faculty members whose research interests you, to attend lab meetings, become a First Year Apprentice, apply for the Sophomore Early Research Program, and work as a paid research intern or assistant.

- Apply for the Science Center Summer Research Program (applications due Feb. 10)
- Learn about the Sophomore Early Research Program
- Learn more about research opportunities offered through the Science Center

Grants

Wellesley College Botanic Gardens Memorial Fund - Education Grants 
 

The Memorial Fund was established by the Friends of the Wellesley College Botanic Gardens (formerly Friends of Horticulture) in 1993 to support students in enhancing their education related to plants, botany, and horticulture. This fund supports experiential learning opportunities, such as travel to participate in a conference, hands-on training or workshops, a wintersession civic engagement trip, or other opportunity.  The primary focus of the educational opportunity must be directly tied to plants, such as research relating to plants, or working hands-on with plants (e.g. farms, food, agriculture; medicinal plants, ethnobotany; gardens, parks, landscapes; conservation). We strongly encourage applicants whose identities and experiences are underrepresented in the fields of botany, ecology, and horticulture, as well as educational opportunities that address topics of justice, equity, and inclusion in these fields. 

Each grant typically awards $200-$400 (maximum of $400 for conference travel) per student. Other amounts will be considered - amounts greater than $400 are granted on a very limited basis.

All grant recipients are required to write a short article (~200-300 words) describing their funded experience, within two months of completing the experience. Recipients are also encouraged to share a photo of their experience (optional). This may be published in our newsletter and/or shared with donors.

How to apply:

All current Wellesley College students are eligible to apply on a rolling basis, throughout the year.  We encourage submitting your application a minimum of 3 weeks prior to any deadlines associated with the educational opportunity.  We will respond to your application with a decision within 3 weeks of submitting the form below, and may be in contact with follow up questions if needed.

Please submit this application form!. Contact wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu with questions. Thank you!

Science Center travel grants

Learn more about Science Center travel grants for presenting at conferences