Education & Outreach
Educational programs, internships, and community science opportunities.
Graduate Studies Program
The NYBG Graduate Studies Program trains Ph.D. and Master’s students who are carrying out studies in systematics, genomics, economic botany, and other related fields such as forestry, ecology, bioinformatics, and conservation biology. The Program is operated in conjunction with six affiliated universities. Students apply to and enroll at one of these universities and complete the degree requirements of the school, but have full access to the staff, facilities, and research opportunities available at the Garden.
Research and Conservation Internships
Science Internships are temporary, part-time positions with a pay rate of $17 per hour. Interns are responsible for working with a science mentor on a research project. This may include but is not limited to research on plant diversity, molecular biology, systematics, taxonomy, morphology, development, and/or bioinformatics. More information: Science Intern Position Announcement
NYBG Press
The New York Botanical Garden Press is one of the largest publishing programs of any independent botanical garden in the world and provides a means for communication of research carried out by scientists at The New York Botanical Garden and elsewhere. Established in 1896, the program focuses on advancements in knowledge about the classification, utilization, and conservation of plants and fungi.
Community Science Program
Community science, or public participation in scientific research (PPSR), is the use of scientifically-literate people to collect data, generate results, and generally conduct science. Community science projects have the ability to collect large amounts of data, due to large volunteer groups, but usually require technical or scientific staff to analyze data and decipher patterns.
At its simplest, community scientists collect data following clear protocols and report those back to researchers. At NYBG, most of our community science programs relate to seasonal changes in plants, animals, and the environment. At other science institutions, community science may involve genetic codes, molecule configurations, sun intensity, and even psychology research.
If you are looking to get involved with NYBG community science, please contact Volunteer Services or visit NYBG Community Science.
Children’s Programs
The Garden’s science training also includes offerings for teachers and students from pre-kindergarten through high school. Teacher training provides innovative, hands-on professional development opportunities for educators. A major goal is to provide teachers with the techniques and tools so that their students can perform authentic science. Explainer internships for high school students provide training in teaching plant science and nature to young children.
Adult Education
The Garden’s Adult Education Program offers more than 30 courses in plant science. In addition, the Botany Certificate Program allows students to select one of three areas of concentration: Field Botany, Plant Systematics, or Ethnobotany.