Ms Mingcan Rong

My research interests are more-than-human geography, plant humanities, and political ecology. My PhD aims to develop a vegetal geography of Chinese rhododendrons in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, foregrounding the agency of plants and focusing on the complicated histories of China-UK plant movement and their lasting impact on conservation. Qualitative fieldwork was conducted in Scotland and China, allowing me to visit the regions where popular UK garden plants (such as rhododendrons) originate and to gain insights and inputs from both British and Chinese botanical institutions. Co-produced workshops will be held to invite garden staff to share their expertise and collaboratively shape some of the project outputs. This PhD project is supported by the University of Bristol PhD scholarship and the RGS-IBG Frederick Soddy Postgraduate Award.

I have delivered seminars and supported workshop activities of undergraduate and masters modules concerning Sustainable Development (year 1), Geographies of Nature (year 2), Environmental Policy and Politics (masters).

I co-convene the Plants and Geographies Reading Group with Skylar Lindsay. Feel free to email us if you would like to join our fortnightly discussion!🌱