Maria Dragoi

I am a second year PhD student interested in the relationship between the development of economic entomology collections and land management strategies in former British colonies and protectorates. More broadly, I am preoccupied with cultural constructions of insects as 'pests' and how this connects to ideas of 'usefulness'.

In my work related to museums I am keen to think about critical cataloguing in natural history collections and the stories specimens can tell, as well as historic display trends and the role of museums in influencing public understandings of the natural world.

My previous research has focused on the history of industrialisation in Britain and its cultural impacts, access to community green space in London and the history of council housing, and the possibilities for sustainable construction materials and 'built-environment literacy'.