Mark joined Kew in 1999. Always interested in how people and plants interact, today he helps look after the Economic Botany collection, carries out research into the history of useful plants, and helps enable Kew projects that bring together the arts and sciences. 

Join us for this talk where Mark shares with us a very personal perspective on Kew’s historic collection of useful plants. He has chosen ten items – some very surprising - that shed light on Kew’s connection to the great events and changes of the world in the last 200 years.  

Mark has wide interests in the science and history of useful plants. In addition to curating Kew’s historic Economic Botany Collection, he promotes the role of the arts and humanities across Kew’s work.

This talk will also be held in person. Please purchase tickets on the door, at the Lady Lisa Sainsbury Lecture Theatre, Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, TW9 3DS. Please arrive via the Jodrell Gate, which will be open from 17:30.