The Herbarium
and its resources are used for both formal and informal education. Several
University of Washington courses use specimens and special collections:
Introduction to Plant Biology (Bot 110), Plant Identification and Classification
(Bot 113), Plant Geography (Bot 350), Morphology and Anatomy of Land Plants
(Bot 441), Plant Community Ecology (Bot 456), General Mycology (Bot 461),
and Wetland Plants (UW Extension). The Collections Manager is frequently
consulted on class and research projects by students, faculty, and staff
from the Departments of Botany, Biology, and Zoology, the College of Forest
Resources, and the Center for Urban Horticulture.
Class groups from both
on- and off-campus take tours of the Herbarium. Tours include students
at UW enrolled in courses such as Botany 113, and Botanical Illustration
offered through UW Extension. Off-campus groups include students
from the Wilderness Awareness School College Program, Bastyr University,
Evergreen State College, and the Washington
Native Plant Society's Native Plant Stewardship program.
Herbarium staff and
volunteers have participated in two special family days at the Burke
Museum. On Celebrate Native Plants Day, they provided a display of
herbarium specimens and demonstrated how to use a plant press. Children
participating in the event were able to make and keep their own mini plant
presses. Wildflower coloring sheets were also offered. On Mt. Rainier Day,
the same activities were offered, with special emphasis on plants of Mt.
Rainier.
Students can receive
Honors credit in Botany 113 for Herbarium-based projects, and students
can earn college credit through practica at
the Herbarium. Graduate student research is supported through the loan
program with other herbaria.
See also the Volunteer
& Internship Program information.
