Theo Tomking
PhD topic title: Statistics, computing and environmental knowledge in the 20th century
PhD supervisor(s): Dr Sabine Clarke and Professor Calvin Dytham
Biography and research
My research focuses on agricultural developments in Britain and its colonies in the 20th century. I am interested in the role of indigenous knowledge in developments in agricultural science and ecological thinking. Also, how this was shaped by the wider context of visions for science, colonialism and development. I explore, for example, the work conducted in agricultural experiment stations in Britain and its colonial territories in the Caribbean and Africa. The opportunity to provide fresh perspectives on food production through historical evidence drives my fascination in this research.
I completed my BSc in Biology with Science and Society at the University of Manchester in 2021. Here, I studied biological sciences alongside modules and research in the history of science, technology and medicine (HSTM). In previous research I have looked into aquaponics and agroforestry, with a focus on science communication for public audiences.