Regius Professor of Botany (Cambridge)
The Regius Professor of Botany is a chair in botany at the University of Cambridge. It is one of the Regius Professorships, established by royal charter, granting it a high level of prestige within the university and wider academic community.
The professorship's precise founding date is debated, but it's generally associated with the creation of the Chair of Botany in 1724 by royal mandate from King George I. However, teaching of botany at Cambridge predates this formal establishment, with lectures and practical instruction occurring earlier within the university. This initial appointment involved the merging of existing botanical lectureships into a single, more formalized professorship.
The Regius Professor is responsible for leading research and teaching in botany within the Department of Plant Sciences at Cambridge. The duties include delivering lectures, supervising doctoral students, conducting independent research, and contributing to the overall academic life of the department and university. The specific research focus of each Regius Professor varies depending on their individual expertise, spanning various aspects of plant biology, ecology, and evolution.
The selection process for the Regius Professor involves a rigorous application and interview procedure. The appointment is made by the University of Cambridge, following a highly competitive search process involving nominations and assessments from within the field of botany and the wider scientific community.
The position carries significant influence within the botanical world, with past Regius Professors having made significant contributions to the field and shaping botanical research and education at Cambridge and beyond. The holder is typically a leading figure in their area of botanical specialization, contributing to both fundamental research and applied aspects of the science.
The list of past Regius Professors provides a valuable record of significant advances in botanical knowledge over several centuries. Access to this list and further details about the professorship's history can often be found through the University of Cambridge's official archives and Department of Plant Sciences website.