By studying plants and fungi in the context of humanities disciplines such as history, literature, art, and philosophy, researchers gain insights into how plants have influenced human culture and identity. Plants play a vital role in deep-rooted connections to human culture, traditions, knowledge systems, and identities and our preserved collections at RBGE are records of this intangible heritage.
Multi-disciplinary research that brings together the sciences and the humanities is key to tackling major current societal issues including climate change, biodiversity loss and the legacies of empire and colonisation. Further research will also ensure that our collections are fully accessible for use in an equitable fashion to support societal needs as well as scientific and cultural research.
