I am a biodiversity scientist with a particular interest in understanding and conserving plant diversity. As Director of Science and Deputy Keeper I am responsible for managing a team of ca 100 staff, students and volunteers in the science division at RBGE.

The Science Division at RBGE includes four research departments (Tropical Diversity, Major Floras, Genetics and Conservation, Cryptogamic Plants and Fungi), a herbarium of 3 million specimens, a world class botanical library and archive and laboratory facilities.

I have a particular interest in the integration of genomic science and whole organism biology. My research aims to:

• Enhance understanding of the relationship between species traits and genomic diversity
• Develop effective mechanisms for rapid characterization of species diversity, such as DNA barcoding
• Gain an increased understanding of the processes governing the evolution of biodiversity, with a particular emphasis on those processes which lead to diversification and taxonomic complexity
• Enhance understanding of pest and pathogen threats to plants in the natural environment
• Use large scale distributional data to enhance strategies for the conservation of plant biodiversity
• Improve strategies for species reintroductions and habitat restoration

I am involved in collaborative projects in many countries around the word with a particular focus in Scotland, China, South Africa, New Caledonia and Patagonia.

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Orcid ID: 0000-0003-0602-0654

Contact: P.Hollingsworth@rbge.org.uk