Plants on a Changing Planet

The climate on Earth has changed significantly since plants first evolved. Plants can survive extreme conditions on land because of the way they have adapted over time. From extreme temperatures, too much or too little water, or different air composition, plants survive, despite being rooted to the ground. This course will explore properties of plant life since their first existence as terrestrial life forms, and how plants survive in different biomes. We will aim to understand how some plants have adapted to thrive in intense heat or cold, flooding and drought, as well as changing atmospheres. We will understand how research helps to develop crops that can withstand climate change. Finally, we will explore a living laboratory at the Oxford Botanic Gardens to observe how plants adapt around the world.