MSc Ethnobotany

Ethnobotany is quintessentially interdisciplinary, involving knowledge and use of plants and their ecology in the context of their cultural, social and economic significance.

Overview

Ethnobotany is the study of the interrelationship between people and plants, historically and cross-culturally, particularly the role of plants in human culture and practices, how humans have used and modified plants, and how they represent them in their systems of knowledge.

This programme combines anthropological studies of human-environment interaction and sociocultural knowledge of plants in different parts of the world with ecology, conservation science, biodiversity management and climate change science. It also covers medicinal plant use and ethnopharmacology, plant conservation and sustainable management practices, taxonomy, and economic botany. Students will receive practical training in mixed methods and learn to conduct interdisciplinary research in Ethnobotany, in preparation for doctoral research or a career in related fields.

The programme is partnered with the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, Botanical Gardens Conservation International, The Eden Project and The UCL School of Pharmacy.

Teaching and assessment

Assessment is by written reports, oral presentations and the dissertation.

Programme aims

This programme aims to:

• provide you with a broad range of knowledge in the major aspects of the subject, showing how these involve connections between a range of different academic disciplines
• provide you with advanced level knowledge of the theoretical, methodological and policy issues relevant to understanding the subdiscipline
• provide you with advanced level knowledge of the theoretical and methodological issues relevant to understanding the subject
• introduce you to a variety of different approaches to ethnobotanical research, presented in a multidisciplinary context and at an advanced level
• facilitate your educational experience through the provision of appropriate pedagogical opportunities for learning
• provide you with appropriate training if you are preparing MPhil/PhD theses, or going on to employment involving the use of ethnobotanical research.