Carol Baskin is a distinguished professor in the Department of Biology and the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, both at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA. She completed her PhD studies in plant ecology at Vanderbilt University and has been recognized with numerous awards and honors for her contributions to plant sciences. With a prolific academic career, she has published over 600 papers in various prestigious journals, significantly advancing the understanding of the seed germination phase of the life cycle of plants. She serves as an active member and advisor for several botanical societies and research projects, guiding the next generation of plant scientists. Her teaching disciplines encompass plant anatomy, and ecology, with a focus on the integration of these areas to enhance the study of plant form and function and regeneration of plants from seeds. Her interests include the study of plant seed germination, origins and evolutionary relationships of the various kinds of seed dormancy, and the application of botanical knowledge to practical problems in horticulture and agriculture.