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.

Plant humanities research

We have six strategic research themes that we are actively looking to pursue through collaborative research projects:

• Art of plants and gardens, including practice-based creative research and / or work on our botanical art collection.
• Connections between biodiversity, equity and social inclusion, including the colonial contexts in which the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has historically operated.
• Cultural contexts of plants in our collections in their native habitats, including both contemporary and historical perspectives.
• Humanities perspectives on the relationships between health, medicine and the plant world, including the value of green spaces for human wellbeing and the wider value of community engagement with nature and culture. 
• Methods and approaches used to determine the value of plants, ecosystems and biodiversity.
• The role of collections-based science in influencing national and international policy.

Our Plant Humanities research reflects our scientific priorities in Scotland, and international collaborations with the Himalayan region, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, China, tropical South America, and Africa. 

At the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh we have experts in botanical illustration, garden history, historical and cultural aspects of plant nomenclature and herbology. We offer a series of course in our Education programme, as well as the opportunity for academic research co-supervised by members of our Science team.

Our collections are accessible by appointment, and we are always happy to hear from potential collaborators and students who wish to develop funding proposals with us.

Current Projects

Current arts and humanities projects include:

Dr. Siôn Parkinson, Fragrance in the Fungarium. AHRC Early Career Fellowship in Cultural and Heritage Institutions

The Ecology of Diversity: British Council-funded artist residency programme hosted by the Koel Gallery, Islamabad, and co-led by Dr Olwen Grace.

Plants on Paper: curatorial practice and the decolonization of collections of scientific prints and drawings. Workshop programme funded by the Getty as part of The Paper Project initiative, led by Emma Nicolson. Lorna Mitchell and Olwen Grace

Graduate students

• Jack Baker. Enhancing the impact of botanical collections on policy for climate & conservation outcomes. Collaborative Doctoral Partnership between RBGE and the University of Edinburgh, funded by the AHRC. 
• Claire Banks, Company Drawings of Natural History: the evolution of techniques and materials. Collaborative Doctoral Award between RBGE, the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh, funded by the Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities, which focuses on the natural history drawings commissioned by Dr.Francis Buchanan-Hamilton. 
• Dr. Sarah MacAllister, Plants and Pedagogy: the role of female botanical artists in medical education, 1726-1961. Collaborative Doctoral Partnership between RBGE and the University of Bristol, funded by the AHRC. 

These projects build on the pioneering research being undertaken by Dr Henry Noltie to understand the Indian Company illustrations held at RBGE, Kew and the NHM, London, research by Dr Mark Watson on the historical collectors in Nepal and India and the work of the Centre for Middle Eastern Plants (CMEP) to tackle societal challenges with in-country partners. 

Art at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

The commissioning and / or creation of new artworks is a fundamental part of the work of plant taxonomists at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to discover, describe and allocate scientific names to all plant species. As a result the RBGE Illustrations Collection includes more than 20,000 original artworks as well as historic photographic collections, prints, models and other illustrative material. In addition, permanent and semi-permanent sculptures and installations combine with events and exhibitions to illuminate our core work for visitors.

We have a uniquely well-established track record of engaging with both botanical and contemporary artists, dating to the role of Inverleith House as Scotland’s first national gallery of modern art in the 1960s’s and continues with artists seeking inspiration in the Library, Archives and Herbarium  Collections. Our Arts Strategy builds on this history and connects the arts to scientific and horticultural research and curation at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. We produce critically acclaimed exhibitions that encourage visitors to engage with our immense collections in new ways.

Please get in touch if you’re interested in collaborating with us.

The Team

• Dr Olwen Grace, Deputy Head of Science (Collections)
• Lorna Mitchell, Head of Library Services
• Dr. Siôn Parkinson, AHRC Early Career Research Fellow

PhD Students

• Jack Baker
• Claire Banks
• Sarah MacAllister 

Research Associates

• Dr Helen Bennett
• Dr Jane Corrie
• Emma Nicolson