Photo by KK Law
In 2024, former UBC Botanical Garden artist-in-residence Erin Despard re-joined the Garden as its writer-in-residence and science communicator.
Erin holds a PhD in Communication Studies and previously served as a research associate and instructor in UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Her writing and research focus on gardens, landscapes, and visual media. Some readers may recall her artistic residency at the Garden, where she explored the art of plant propagation. Erin has also published extensively on topics such as invasive species, designed landscapes, and social media, and the history of public gardens. Her recent works include an article in Maisonneuve Magazine on the history of a northern bog relocated to Montreal during the Floralies internationales 1980 and a critical essay in Landscape Architecture Magazine examining Alan Ward’s landscape and garden photography. More of Erin’s work can be found on her blog, www.communicativelandscapes.com.
In her new role, Erin aims to deepen public engagement with the Garden’s scientific work while continuing her literary and academic exploration of gardens. Her inaugural project, Research in the Garden, is a map featuring eleven exemplary research projects from a variety of different fields and scientific disciplines. Accompanied by a brochure, the map presents a broad swath of the Garden’s research activities in an accessible and visually compelling way.
Looking ahead, Erin will employ diverse creative strategies to enhance the visibility and accessibility of scientific and policy-oriented activities within the Garden. Her work will support the 2025 launch of the Garden’s new strategic plan by providing a conduit for science and research to reach a broader audience. This will, in turn, provide the basis for more inclusive public discussion of pressing environmental issues, and bring attention to the invaluable knowledge, wisdom, and resources housed within the Garden.
Written by Erin Despard
Writer-in-residence
UBC Botanical Garden & Nitobe Memorial Garden