Today he fulfills that dream every day! He works as a botanist at the University of Oxford Botanic Garden in England. Thorogood travels throughout Southeastern Asia to study rare and unusual plants—including Rafflesia. He also draws the plants he studies for books, magazines, and research papers. Thorogood spoke with SuperSTEM about why plants are incredible and important.

Now he fulfills that dream every day! He’s a botanist. He works at the University of Oxford Botanic Garden. It’s in England. Thorogood travels around Southeastern Asia. He studies rare and unusual plants there. That includes Rafflesia. He also draws the plants he studies. His pictures end up in books, magazines, and research papers. Thorogood spoke with SuperSTEM. He explains why plants are amazing and important.

We tend to think of “life” as animal life, with plants as a sort of green backdrop. But we have to remember that plants not only create the habitat where animals live—plants are alive too! They also create the air that we breathe. This happens through a process called photosynthesis. Plants take in carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight to produce sugar and oxygen. Plants are essential for life to exist! We also use plants to make clothing, food, and medicines.

Right now, many plants are in trouble. More than two in five plant species are in danger of dying out. It’s important to study plants because we can’t properly care for the species we don’t know about.

We tend to think of “life” as animal life. Plants are seen as a sort of green backdrop. But plants don’t only form the places where animals live. Plants are alive too! They also create the air we breathe. This happens through a process called photosynthesis. Plants take in carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight. Then they make sugar and oxygen. Plants are vital for life to exist! We also use plants to make clothing, food, and medicines.

Many plants are in trouble. More than two in five species are in danger of dying out. It’s important to study plants. We can’t care for species we don’t know about.

When I see an incredible plant on my trips, I feel the need to document it through art. I take a lot of photographs, observe the plant very closely, and draw a lot of sketches. At home, I put them all out in front of me for inspiration. Then I paint the plant!

Illustrations have always been important to botanists. Before photography, scientists included illustrations with their descriptions of new species in research journals. Illustrations can show all the tiny details of a plant very clearly and precisely in a way that photos cannot—similar to diagrams. Illustrations are still used today. Drawings and paintings of plants are also things of beauty!

I see incredible plants on my trips. I feel the need to record them through art. I take a lot of photographs. I look at a plant very closely. I draw a lot of sketches. I lay them all out at home to inspire me. Then I paint the plant!

Illustrations have always been important to botanists. Scientists describe new species in research journals. Before photography, they’d include illustrations. Drawings can show all the tiny details of a plant clearly and precisely. They’re similar to diagrams. Photos can’t do that. Illustrations are still used today. Drawings and paintings of plants are also things of beauty!