Let’s Botanize
Jacob Suissa believes that science belongs to everyone. He puts that belief into action by sharing complex topics in botany and evolutionary biology in ways that are engaging and accessible.
In addition to his role as an assistant professor in ecology and evolutionary biology, he has built a thriving online community with “Let’s Botanize,” a non-profit organization and social media platform dedicated to breaking down intricate biological concepts, showcasing unique aspects about plant species, and sparking curiosity through interactive content.
“The responses we get on social media are fantastic and very rewarding,” said Suissa, who spends his weekends botanizing with collaborators in the green world—like birdwatching but with plants. “One of the most rewarding aspects of this work are when people say things like, ‘Wow, I didn’t know that’ or ‘I learned something new!’”
Suissa and Harvard University colleague Ben Goulet-Scott want to share their knowledge about plants and all aspects of their biology to the broadest possible audience, so they turned to social media, the “town square” of the 21st century. “Let’s Botanize” shares the importance of biodiversity and plant science with more than 167,000 followers on Instagram and some 60,000 on TikTok. They are working to expand onto YouTube and published a book that introduces people to the hobby of botanizing.
Love for Plant Life
“I think spending time around plants and observing them in close detail enriches your life,” said Suissa. “There is even some evidence suggesting that being around plants is good for your mental health. But more than that, it is important to remember that we live on a green planet.”
Suissa emphasizes the fact that plants make up most of the living stuff, or biomass, on Earth—roughly 82% of it. Plants form the foundation of nearly every ecosystem, provide food for nearly all life, and much of the oxygen humans and animals breathe.
“Without plants, life as we know it could not exist,” said Suissa. “Our mission with ‘Let’s Botanize’ is to spread the hobby of botanizing through sharing plant stories and inspiring a curiosity and passion for plants. If we can inspire people to care a bit more about plants, hopefully we can all become better stewards of the planet, eventually helping to combat the biodiversity and climate crises.”
Enthusiasm in Education
Suissa brings this passion and excitement for nature to inspire enthusiasm in his UT classroom. He often stays up late creating interactive graphics in PowerPoint to convey complex botanical topics to his students in the classroom.
“I can’t help but nerd out over plants,” he said. “Part of my teaching philosophy—which I bring in the classroom and into the ‘Let’s Botanize’ videos—is modeling this unbridled excitement. I lean into it and use it as a tool to inspire curiosity and excitement.”
He acknowledges the potential irony of promoting a hobby of “being outside” through the platform of social media, but sees it as a valuable tool to help social followers and students alike connect with nature for enriching experiences.
“Botanizing is something you can do on your daily strolls, while hiking, birding, gardening, or even rock climbing,” he said. “Getting out and spending time with plants and appreciating them as living beings is a fun hobby that can be done alone or with other people. The bar is quite low because, well, plants are everywhere.”
By Randall Brown