Restructured Kew science directorate commits to fungi

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, has made an unprecedented commitment to mycology in its latest science strategy. However, concerns have been raised about the delivery of the strategy following a number of controversial redundancies in its science directorate.

Kew’s science strategy, A Global Resource for Plant and Fungal Knowledge: Science strategy 2015-2020, which was launched on 23 February, sets out three priorities for science at Kew: to document and conduct research into global plant and fungal diversity; to curate data-rich evidence from Kew’s collections; and to disseminate scientific knowledge of plants and fungi.

Nine “strategic outputs” will complement Kew’s priorities. They include a horizon-scanning exercise to assess the state of the world’s plants; the continuing growth of the Millennium Seed Bank, and the digitisation of at least 80 per cent of Kew’s collection. One hundred students will be eligible for an MSc course in taxonomy based at Kew and 100 Kew scientists a year will be interacting directly with visitors by 2020.