Jill Marshall

This PhD project, jointly hosted by the School of Law & Social Science at Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL) and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, investigates the legal and ethical dimensions of Kew’s overseas plant collecting history. The research explores the evolution of Kew’s plant collecting and export activities from its colonial origins to the present, focusing on the intersection of international environmental law, global justice, and human rights. Supervised by Professor Jill Marshall (RHUL), China Williams (Kew’s Legal Agreements Advisor), and Professor Mark Nesbitt (Plant Humanities Research Leader at RBG Kew), the student will engage with both institutions and join a vibrant cohort of CDP-funded students across the UK. The project applies critical legal theories—such as ‘justice in acquisitions’ and ‘transfer’—to examine cultural identity, international law, and legal theory within the context of plant collecting. Research will involve close analysis of Kew’s extensive archival records, including historical documents from plant-collecting expeditions (1840–1950) and recent overseas collecting agreements. The project uniquely applies legal perspectives to these sources, offering new insights into how specimens were acquired and the implications for present-day agreements and international law. Key themes include equality, historical accountability, economic and social justice, and the impact of legal frameworks on biodiversity and restitution debates. Applicants will benefit from access to Kew’s rich archives and the opportunity to conduct original research at the intersection of law, history, and environmental studies. The project is ideal for candidates interested in legal history, environmental justice, and the socio-legal analysis of scientific institutions. Funding details are not specified in the post. The application deadline is May 8, 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the project link.