Undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and math students (STEM) are usually not attuned to the intricacies of plant life histories or to the dynamic role plants play in ecosystems and human society, a phenomenon termed plant blindness. Botany education has declined in the past decades, whereas career paths that need and benefit from a workforce with botanical knowledge have increased. Consequently, there is a need to reduce plant blindness among undergraduate students, regardless of their career trajectories. We provide evidence that participation in a botanical experience as part of a general biology course can positively shift undergraduates’ perception of botany, the study of plants. Students participating in the botanical experience showed significant positive shifts in their ability to connect botany to their college major and future careers. In addition, we show qualitative data indicating a new respect for plants and a new appreciation for the diversity among plants.

中文翻译：

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以植物学为重点：通过沉浸式植物学经验解决大学生的植物失明问题

本科科学，技术，工程和数学学生（STEM）通常不适应植物生命史的复杂性或植物在生态系统和人类社会中发挥的动态作用，这种现象被称为植物失明。在过去的几十年中，植物学教育有所下降，而需要和受益于具有植物学知识的劳动力的职业道路却有所增加。因此，有必要减少大学生的植物盲目性，而不管他们的职业轨迹如何。我们提供的证据表明，参加植物学经验作为普通生物学课程的一部分可以积极地改变大学生对植物学，植物学的认识。参加植物学实验的学生在将植物学与大学专业和未来职业联系起来的能力方面显示出明显的积极变化。此外，我们显示了定性数据，表明对植物的新尊重和对植物多样性的新认识。