Meg Burgess

Biography and research

My research explores the contributions of female collectors to RBG Kew’s Fungarium. I investigate their role in the development of modern British mycology and their impact on the public understanding of what a ‘scientist’ looks like.

I hold a BA (Hons) in Literature from the University of Oxford and an MA in the History of Art (‘American Ecologies 1950-present’) from The Courtauld Institute. Throughout my studies, my research has centred on human relationships with the more-than-human world and feminist environmentalism, as explored through art and visual culture. My professional experience within the Museum and Heritage Sector is where I developed my interest in the history of science and collecting, particularly in the context of herbaria and fungaria.

Funder 

The Leverhulme Trust