I believe that science is for everyone. It is my responsibility to develop training and foster a positive environment that helps anybody translate rigorous work into real-world impact. I believe that embracing uncertainty and making, at times, difficult decisions in light of that uncertainty is a crucial aspect of science beyond the classroom. Thus, I will not make oversimplifications regarding contentious topics and I expect students to develop evidence-based positions from data and primary sources. My expectation is that everyone will be challenged at some point throughout the class; however, assessments will provide a path for everyone that invests time in the class to succeed. I owe it to students to include rapidly changing technology in the classroom that builds relevant marketable skills, but learning outcomes will establish a well-rounded conceptual basis for the field of evolutionary biology with an emphasis on the unique challenges of plants. Effective education in plant biology will ultimately lead to deeper and more enjoyable connections with nature that can last a lifetime and be shared with others.