DIS and Royal Botanic Gardens doctoral studentship

The Department of Information Studies at UCL and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew are excited to announce a doctoral studentship for a collaborative research project to critically evaluate the history of the Kew Gardens Archives between 1841 and 1958 to understand record-keeping at Kew as both instrument and legacy of the British imperial project.

Empire and archives are intimately linked. Archival forms and record-keeping practices reflect and inform systems of governance; record-keeping was central to attempts by imperial powers to maintain administrative control. The Archives of the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) Kew are of significance to the history of global botany and in addressing questions of biodiversity loss, climate change, and environmental sustainability. By employing participatory research methods with historically impacted communities, the research will enable new, more diverse histories of Kew Gardens and British imperialism.

We are now recruiting a student. We are looking for applicants with an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject and a Master’s degree or equivalent professional experience. We also welcome candidates who have some experience, qualification or understanding of archival science or archival history, demonstrated by, for example, use of archives in their previous research, a post-graduate qualification in archives and records management or relevant work experience in an archive. We particularly welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, or those who could bring a community perspective to the research.

Please see details and how to apply: https://www.lahp.ac.uk/prospective-students/collaborative-doctoral-awards-projects-available/ . The closing date is 5pm on Friday 26th January 2024.