Ben Cresto (BA ’24) (he/they)
Propagating Imperialism in Botanic Gardens
Ben’s research project, Propagating Imperialism in Botanic Gardens, delves into the historical role of 18th and 19th century botanic gardens in reshaping metropole-colony dynamics. His inquiry emerged from the discourse on colonial legacies in Western institutions and explored how these persist within our relationship to plants. Focusing on Kew Gardens in London, he studied the interplay of science and commerce during the High Imperial era. Ben’s future research includes a comparative study of Kew Gardens in London and Queens, New York, exploring problematic practices in urban planning, culminating in a senior project.