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How do we avoid being "parachute scientists"? A quick recap of SSI's journal club meeting today [thread]:
scientists––most often from wealthy nations––adventure in countries to collect data & publish research without coordinating with local people and organizations of the area
scientists––most often from wealthy nations––adventure in countries to collect data & publish research without coordinating with local people and organizations of the area
So, if parachute scientists don't interact w/ anyone, what's the harm?
Our reading for the week, a paper by Dr. Terry Gosliner, describes a new expedition model that strives for science to be considered as "more than knowledge for knowledge's sake"
Our reading for the week, a paper by Dr. Terry Gosliner, describes a new expedition model that strives for science to be considered as "more than knowledge for knowledge's sake"
Basically, instead of just holding onto knowledge within circles of professional researchers going on expeditions, we can build a new, inclusive framework of science that brings in educators, students, media teams, & community leaders––& the first step is communication
This includes communicating with local communities in the region of study & broader audiences! Science documents phenomena & seeks solutions to problems, and this doesn't (and can't) happen in an academic bubble; being a "parachute scientist" = being locked in that bubble
As one student said during journal club, "science is a universal language"––it's crucial to consult and uplift voices of Indigenous & local communities (with consent!!) because "science" isn't restricted to just the empirical methods taught in our universities
Let us know your thoughts on "parachute science," whether in the context of medical research, ecology, or other fields of science. How can we be more conscious and inclusive scientists?
Dr. Gosliner's paper: https://bit.ly/2ZTYpki
Dr. Gosliner's paper: https://bit.ly/2ZTYpki
More on parachute researchers from @NPR: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/04/02/472686809/scientists-say-its-time-to-end-parachute-research
