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Societal Impact StatementIt is important to recognize how our current understanding of plants has been shaped by diverse cultural contexts, as this underscores the importance of valuing and incorporating contributions from all knowledge systems in scientific pursuits. This approach emphasizes the ongoing bias, including within scientific practices, and the necessity of discussing problematic histories within spaces of learning. It is crucial to acknowledge and address biases, even within scientific endeavors. Doing so fosters a more inclusive and equitable scientific community. This article, while not comprehensive, serves as a starting point for conversation and an introduction to current work on these topics. SummaryIn response to a global dialog about systemic racism, ongoing inequalities, appeals to decolonize science, and the many recent calls for diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion, we draw on the narratives of plants to revisit the history of botany. Our goal is to uncover how exclusionary practices have functioned in the past and persist today. We also explore the numerous opportunities and challenges that arise in the era of information as we strive to establish a more inclusive field of botany. This approach recognizes and honors the contributions of historically marginalized groups, such as Black and Indigenous communities. We hope that this article can serve as a catalyst for raising awareness, fostering contemplation, and driving action toward a more equitable and just scientific community. 

Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) in combination with optical measurements has become a popular form of analysis to characterize dissolved organic matter (DOM) as a function of molecular size. Here, SEC coupled with in-line absorbance scans and fluorescence emission scans was utilized to derive apparent fluorescence quantum yield (Φf) as a function of molecular weight (MW) for DOM. Individual instrument-specific SEC-fluorescence detector correction factors were developed by comparison of an SEC-based excitation emission matrix (EEM) to an EEM generated by a calibrated benchtop fluorometer. The method was then applied to several sample sets to demonstrate how to measure the Φf of unknown DOM samples and to observe changes to Φf following a processing mechanism (ozonation). The Φf of riverine water samples and DOM fulvic acid isolates from Suwannee River and Pony Lake increased from < 0.5% to a maximum of ∼2.5–3% across the medium- to low-MW range. Following ozonation of PLFA, Φf increased most notably in the large-MW fractions (elution volumes < 40 mL). Overall, this method provides a means by which highly fluorescent size fractions of DOM can be identified for more detailed analyses of chemical composition and its changes through different processing mechanisms.