Temple University

Ryan Shaw is a senior majoring in Horticulture in the Tyler School of Art and Architecture. 

“What drew me to my major was my interest in plants. I hope to pursue that in the future and see where it takes me,” Shaw said. “I had applied to several schools, but Temple had the major I wanted to pursue and it was the most affordable option.”

According to Shaw, Temple’s Horticulture program is unique “because we have the Ambler Campus and the Ambler Arboretum.” 

“It’s nice to come out here and visit the Arboretum to identify woody plants. We also have the (Tyler School of Art and Architecture) Greenhouse as a resource,” he said. “The research I’ve been undertaking with the Horticulture program is analyzing the soil respiration in the wooded trails. We’ve also been helping a lot with the Biology Department and the Temple Ambler Field Station in identifying trees and grow back rates in the Temple Forest Observatory. I personally like the hands-on nature of the research because it’s full circle for me — we learn a lot in class and then it’s easier for me to see how it is applied in real life. In this case our research is real life.”