Education

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2017-2023 PhD

Royal Holloway University of London & Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Biocultural collections and networks of knowledge exchange in the 19th century: the quest for quinine. AHRC TECHNE NPIF funded.

Supervisors: Felix Driver (RHUL) & Mark Nesbitt (RBG, Kew)

Full description here.

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2014 MSc Herbal Medicine (Research) - Distinction

University of Westminster

Dissertation: History of the development of Eucalyptus spp. as a medicine 19th Century.

2009-2012 BSc (Hons) Herbal Medicine 2:1

About Dr Kim Walker

I draw upon my research skills to create engaging accounts of the ways in which plants have shaped human history.

I focus on medicinal plants and have worked with coca/cocaine (Erythroxylum spp.), cinchona/quinine (Cinchona spp.) and the essential oils of Eucalyptus spp.

I am currently an Honorary Research Fellow at Royal Holloway and consultant at the Economic Botany Collection and the Antonelli Lab at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

I also run a foraging & herbal medicine business at www.handmadeapothecary.co.uk 

As a working-class lass, I invite contact from others with a similar background who wish to move into historical research and academia. Cups of tea, advice and writing help are yours!

Awards

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2020 Fortnum & Mason

Winner Debut Drink Book

2017 AHRC TECNHE

National Productivity investment Fund (NPIF) PhD Scholarship

2017 Martin Fellowship

Naturalis Biodiversity Centre, Leiden, Netherlands


Selected career

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Economic Botany Collection, Kew Gardens | Antonelli Lab

Researching the history of medicinal plant products: particularly Eucalyptus, Cinchona and Erythroxylon spp..

2014-present

Betonica School of Herbal Medicine

Director, teacher of botany, materials medical and writing skills.

2019-present