| Title | 19. Making plants cool again |
|---|---|
| Subtitle | Re-introducing botany as a beacon of hope and innovation in our educational systems |
| Contributor | Geyan Surendran (author) |
| Adam Bromley (author) | |
| James Connorton (author) | |
| Lian X. Liu (author) | |
| Paul A. Townsend (author) | |
| Michael Heinrich (author) | |
| Shelini Surendran (author) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.11647/obp.0462.19 |
| Landing page | https://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0462/chapters/10.11647/obp.0462.19 |
| License | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ |
| Copyright | Geyan Surendran; Adam Bromley; James Connorton; Lian X. Liu; Paul A. Townsend; Michael Heinrich; Shelini Surendran; |
| Publisher | Open Book Publishers |
| Published on | 2025-07-02 |
| Long abstract | Botany, long overshadowed in educational discourse, is fundamental to understanding life on Earth, shaping ecosystems, and sustaining human existence. Despite its critical importance, plant science has seen a marked decline in emphasis within pre-university curricula, particularly in the UK. This chapter explores the potential for a botanical renaissance in education, arguing that early and meaningful exposure to botany can inspire curiosity, innovation, and a deeper engagement with pressing global challenges. By examining current gaps, highlighting successful educational practices, and proposing future-oriented strategies, this chapter advocates for a revitalised biology curriculum - one that positions botany as a vital, dynamic, and hopeful field of study. |
| Page range | pp. 219–228 |
| Print length | 10 pages |
| Language | English (Original) |
Geyan Surendran has an academic background in physiology and the pharmaceutical sciences, supervising MSc and BSc ethnobotany and biosciences research projects, as well as delivering, developing and auditing undergraduate biosciences university courses, as well as building more intuitive educational management systems that cater to diverse learning styles. His current research focuses on online and digital delivery of educational programmes, ethnobotany, and the use of physiologically active plants and fungi to modulate mood, attention, cognition and sleep quality. Geyan previously led the research for the non-alcoholic “functional” beverage company Beyond Alcohol in the UK and US, and is currently developing processes to add value to millet, yam and taro crops in Ghana by exploring historical farming and fermentation techniques from around the world with Asoro Africa. Prior to this, he spent five years working in topical and transdermal pharmaceutical research and has spent over twelve years as a distiller and non-alcoholic drinks formulator.
Dr Adam Bromley is a teaching intensive lecturer in Organic Chemistry at the University of Reading. Dr Bromley initially completed an MChem degree at Loughborough University, including two research projects which investigated substitution reactions in perfluorinated heterocycles and the synthesis of methane monooxygenase analogues. He then moved to the University of Surrey where he completed a PhD in Polymer Chemistry, researching the facile synthesis of polymeric carriers for the delivery of therapeutic agents. Afterwards, he followed his passion for education, leading the teaching and development of Chemistry courses at Farnborough College of Technology. Dr Bromley continues to strive for excellence in teaching and the promotion of all scientific fields, to encourage a new generation of interdisciplinary scholars.
Dr James Connorton has long been interested in the plants that make up our environment and the important role they place. He did an undergraduate degree in biochemistry at the University of Sheffield, UK, where he undertook an extended research project investigating the way stomata (the pores in leaves) open and close to allow water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide to enter and exit. After that, he did a PhD in plant science at the University of Manchester, UK, studying the genes that allow plants to absorb and distribute minerals in their cells. He then worked at CEA Grenoble, France, for two years before joining the John Innes Centre in Norwich (UK). Here he studied mineral absorption in crops and successfully developed high iron wheat varieties to try and combat “hidden hunger” across the world. Since 2020, he has been a Lecturer in Biosciences, first at the University of Surrey and then in 2024 he moved to Manchester Metropolitan University. He teaches on both traditional degrees and degree apprenticeships and is currently also pursuing a Master’s degree in Higher Education.
Dr Lian X. Liu is a Reader in the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at University of Surrey. Dr Liu obtained her PhD from the University of Queensland in Australia and worked in Carrier Transicold in Singapore for three years after her PhD. She then moved back to the University of Queensland and spent most of her academic career in the same university, before moving to the University of Surrey. Dr Liu’s research expertise is in particle technology and formulations for health applications. Her expertise in particle technology ranges from comminution (particle breakage process) to granulation process (particle size enlargement process), as well as bulk powder flow and compaction and crystallisation. Her expertise on formulations includes nano-micellar nutrient based topical formulations for anti-ageing and wound healing. She has worked with a wide range of industries such as minerals, agricultural, pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
Professor Paul A. Townsend joined the University of Stirling in November 2024 as Deputy Principal (Research and Innovation). He has extensive expertise in biomedical and health sciences, coupled with interdisciplinary innovation, and a proven track record of transformative leadership in Higher Education. After earning his PhD at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now CRUK) in 1997, Paul has consistently bridged the gap between industry and academia, pushing the frontiers of scientific discovery. His research in cell stress, ageing and survival mechanisms, along with his work on developing network solutions for early disease detection, exemplifies his innovative approach. His career spans institutions including the University of Southampton and the University of Manchester. Most recently, he served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean at the University of Surrey’s Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. There, he established the new Surrey School of Medicine, founded the Surrey Academic Health and Care Partnership, and co-led both the Wolfson Bioanalytics Centre of Excellence and Surrey Centre of Excellence in Ageing. Under his leadership, the Faculty secured Athena Swan Gold and Silver awards and excellent REF and NSS results. Paul has co-founded several companies and secured multi-million-pound grants from major funding bodies. His expertise encompasses drug discovery, AI applications, and advanced mass spectrometry, leading to significant breakthroughs in cancer and chronic disease biomarker identification.
Michael Heinrich is a Professor of Ethnopharmacology and Medicinal Plant Research (Pharmacognosy) at the University College London (UCL) School of Pharmacy (from 1999–2011, School of Pharmacy—University of London) and was until 2017 the Head of the research cluster “Biodiversity and Medicines” at the UCL School of Pharmacy. From 2017 until 2023, he served as the Joint Chair of UCL’s Research Ethics Committee (with Dr L. Ang, Institute of Education, UCL). In 2022, he was appointed a Yushan Fellow at China Medical University in Taiwan, and he is the 2023 recipient of the Norman Farnsworth Award in Botanical Excellence (American Botanical Council, Austin, TX, USA). For many years the group’s research has been based on a transdisciplinary and translational perspective integrating approaches from the natural and social sciences with an overall aim of tackling the fast-changing global health needs focusing on the use of plant-derived products as “medicinal plants”, “health foods”, or nutraceuticals, botanicals, and the like. Botany and related fields have been a core element of the team’s research in México, Guatemala, and the Mediterranean China, Thailand, and other Asian countries. In the last ten years, the group’s research has centred on value chains of herbal medicines in a globalised context (including their impacts on livelihood and quality of products), as well as sustainable sourcing.
Shelini Surendran currently serves as the Associate Dean (International) and an Associate Professor at the University of Surrey, where she received the “Early Career Teacher of the Year” award in 2021. She previously was Head of Biology at Farnborough College of Technology, where she led the programme for A-level Biology, BTEC Applied Science, and GCSE Biology for five years. Her research expertise centres on investigating the genetic relationship between vitamin B12 status and cardio-metabolic traits across diverse ethnic groups. Shelini fulfils the role of an undergraduate dissertation supervisor, overseeing seven projects exploring the impact of botanicals from Eastern Medicine on cognition. Additionally, she serves as an examiner for Master’s student dissertation projects within the Food Science and Nutrition program, showcasing her commitment to guiding and advancing research in these fields.