going beyond the degree_li_sm

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Me & Mithibai Backbencher at FYBsc. Mithibai College, c. April 1990. Started exploring career options during SYBSc. after one of Sashi Madam’s lectures. CBZ – BZ – Botany (Hort)

•WWF/ Nature Club •BNHS Student Member •USEFI Member


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Education: Step One

• BSc., Botany w/ Horticulture (Mithibai College), Univ. of Mumbai, 1992

• MSc., Botany w/Taxonomy, Pharmacognosy & Economic Botany, (Mithibai College), Univ. of Mumbai, 1994


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Hurdles & Hurray’s

• Missed ranking at college level (BSc) • MSc. Part-1..

• New syllabus + University professors on strike = no lectures or notes

• Notes from seniors not applicable • Education becomes a competition

• Hurray!!

• Topped Mithibai in MSc. Botany (2) • Topped all Mithibai Master’s Level disciplines

(Arts, Commerce, Science) • Ranked 2nd at University level (MU, Botany)


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Hard Work - Rewarded

Mithibai Alumni Award, 1994: Master’s Level Topper across all disciplines in Mithibai College & also for University Rank for MSc. Botany, January 1995


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Next?

• Masters of Landscape Architecture, Univ. of Illinois @ Urbana Champaign, (1995 enrolled), graduated – 2002

Coursework included lots of technical studies, some cultural studies and design classes, plus research. 48 credit hours, 12 graduate units (req. only 11) Used Botany background to skip some core courses, and take other ones instead. Received several conference and research grants during 1995-2002. Received the prestigious 2003 National ASLA Graduate Student Award, for Graphic Design.


degree to desk

Botany as a stepping stone


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Traditional Post Degree Paths (until c. 1995)

• Specialist – Botanist, Landscape Designer, Landscape Architect • Higher Designation – MSc. / M. Phil., Ph.D, Post Doc., Research Scientist Etc. • Teacher / Professor / Tutor / Lecturer • Technician • Study Further, Local or Abroad • Marriage, Secondary Business, New Profession • Additional Course Work, If Lucky


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In 2015, degree => direction

With additional training or coursework, • Viticulture, Mushroom Culture, Harvest Technology & Food Preservation • Nutritional Science, Alternative Medicine • Biotech / Nanotech, Microbiology • Genetics • Florist, Naturalist, Consultant • Ecologist, Environmentalist, Activist • Blogger, Social Media Savvy Journalist • Specialty Business or Non-Profit (Botanical Garden, Arboretum, Park Services etc).


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More Open Doors Than Before • Rise of the internet – information overload!!

• Camps, groups and opportunities for self directed growth.

• Rise of the social media savvy crowd, active and engaged.


Specialized: Pollution Monitoring • Ecological Impacts Statements (EIS)

– Eg. Red lichen indicate air quality and are only seen at higher altitudes with a specific level of Oxygen.

This photograph was taken at Dhanaulti, Mussourie.


Specialized: Applied Palynology

• Bee-keepers & Honey Making Industry

• Allergenists (Study & Treatment Of Common Seasonal Allergies)

• Crop Sciences • Archeology & Fossil Fuels

Locally produced honey, created by bees from only one kind of flower, is a very desirable product.


Specialized: Crop Sciences: Cytogenetics & Biostats • Agronomy & Research

– Crop Sciences / Agriculture – Breeding

• Gene Mutations, Developing Diseases Resistant Crops

Plant genetics helps improve crop yield, develop disease resistance and increases desirability.


Specialized: Ecology / Environmental Issues • Wildlife Management • Watershed Management • Soil Sciences • Crop Sciences • Pollution • Environmental Protection &

Preservation Extreme mining and

subsequent denudation of the hills around Dehradun.


Specialized: Environmental Botany & Forestry • Local Flora & Fauna • Economic Impact Of The

Ecology On A Region • Forestry Products • Eco-friendly Products • Biodiversity • Eco-parks, Eco-Tourism & Agri-

tourism Cleme viscosa / Jhakiya spice only grown and used in the Uttarakhand region.


Specialized: Applied Botany

• Ethno-Heritage • Preservation of Local Flora,

Tracking Traditional Spices etc. • Connections Between Socio-

Cultural Patterns & Environmental Issues

• Economic Botany


Specialized: Ethnobotany & Pharmacognosy • Spice Production • Medicinal Herbs • Edible Native Flora • Aesthetic Botany • Alternative & Holistic

Medicine • Ayurveda

A Tibetan vendor selling locally procured ‘mountain’ spices, Mussourie


Specialized: Horticulture

• Turf Grass Management (Sports Fields)

• Golf Course & Management • Garden Design, Management &

Maintenance • Consumables – Fruit & Vegetable

Production, Preservation & Delivery

• Citrus Research, Viticulture, Etc • Agro-tourism, Eco-tourism Etc. A seasonal display in

the greenhouse of a garden in Georgia, made of plants.


degree to desk

my story, part one


Historic Garden Design


Research


Traditional Landscape Design


Landscape Architect & Designer


Graphic Design


degree to desk

& beyond

my story, part two (C) Nandita Godbole, 2015

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{My} Job Titles … since 1992

• Undergraduate Student • Graduate Student (Twice) • Interim Professor • Artist, Illustrator, Painter • Ph.D Applicant • Resource Guide • Volunteer • Tutor, Research & Teaching Assistant • Landscape Designer • Intern • Landscape Architect • Invited Speaker (Botany, Landscape Architecture & Culinary) • Graphic Designer • Culinary Instructor • Chef & Entrepreneur • Author • Business & Social Media Consultant


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• Graphic Designer, Artist, Illustrator & Painter

• Landscape Designer & Landscape Architect • Author: Cookbooks & Fiction

• Consultant: Business, Social Media & Crowd-source Funding

• Speaker (Botany, Landscape Architecture & Culinary Topics)

• Blogger, Writer & Guest Contributor

• Chef & Culinary Instructor

• Entrepreneur & Business Woman

Ongoing Careers … since 1992


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Culinary Career

• Best selling Cookbook & E-Cookbook Author • Blogger w/ Print & Visual Media Appearances • Personal Chef


what does this mean for you?


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Employability

• Acc. to a recent survey only 16% of MU graduates are employable.

• Will you be one of them?

• YES!


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HOW?

• Any college discipline is your stepping stone to success.

• Botany is far more versatile than it appears. • Use peer experience and research to determine the best path.

• Tune into your inner strengths to make them WORK for you.


There is no one formula, syllabus or coursework for

success.

Successful careers are not stacked or linear paths.

All careers are cumulative >>

hard work & long term planning.

Your skills will help build your

trajectory for growth.


going beyond the degree_li_sm

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