The RDS was, from its foundation in 1731, a colonial institution, with projects extending from its members' rooms in Dublin to the Irish countryside, and across the ocean to the Caribbean plantation colonies. For over 100 years, the RDS played a crucial role in shaping and disseminating colonial science and focused on issues that directly benefited colonial interests, such as agriculture, industry, and the harnessing of Ireland’s natural resources.

In 2024, in collaboration with Research Ireland and Trinity College Dublin, the RDS made an important commitment to address its colonial legacies, joining a growing number of institutions and organisations in Ireland and across the world who have chosen to investigate their ties to enslavement and empire.

In this episode RDS Foundation Director Niamh De Loughry, Head of Library & Archives Natasha Serne and Research Ireland Enterprise Fellow Dr Rachael Scally explore the colonial history of the RDS, and touch on the preliminary findings of Rachael’s research into its legacies of empire.

From 1895 to 1914, amateur Egyptologist and RDS Member Lawrence E. Steele made 4 trips to Egypt, where he visited archaeological digs, ancient temple complexes and the Cairo museum. On his return Steele lectured around Ireland on Egyptology, utilising the photographs he took, and the glass lantern slides he purchased on his travels. The record of his visits, including 1,500 glass lantern slides, several diaries and notebooks and an album of press-cuttings of articles and reviews of Steele’s lectures were left to the RDS in 1946. From 2024-2025 the RDS Library & Archives were fortunate to receive funding from a private donor and the Heritage Council Community Heritage Grant Scheme to digitise this collection. It is now complete and available to view on the RDS Digital Archive. In this episode Foundation Director Niamh de Loughry and Head of Library & Archives Natasha Serne, talk about Steele’s life and legacy and explore the broader RDS digital collections.

During the 18th century the RDS facilitated the planting of around 55 million trees in Ireland. The National Botanic Gardens, founded by the Society in 1795, experimented with different tree species into the 19th century and in 1988 they introduced the first forestry awards in Ireland. In this episode we join RDS Foundation Director, Niamh De Loughry, Head of RDS Library & Archives, Natasha Serne and Head of the RDS Forest and Woodlands Awards judging panel, Dr Mick Keane as they explore the near 300-year-old story of the RDS and Irish forestry.

The RDS Forest and Woodland Awards recognise and reward farmers and woodland owners that have adopted Climate-Smart Agricultural practices on their properties. These practices include sound commercial management, environmental protection, and biodiversity. The Awards are now open for entries until Friday, December 19. To apply, visit RDS - Forestry Awards

The RDS would like to thank our sponsors and partners for their support and dedication to the Awards; the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Teagasc, and Woodlands of Ireland.