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Ecologists should create space for a wide range of expertise

Indigenous communities’ knowledge and approaches enrich studies.
  1. Virginia Gewin

    1. Virginia Gewin is a freelance journalist based in Portland, Oregon.

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Last year, my colleagues and I wrote a paper highlighting five shifts that would help to decolonize ecology (C. H. Trisos et al. Nature Ecol. Evol. 5, 1205–1212; 2021). Ecologists need to improve how they incorporate varied perspectives, approaches and interpretations from the diverse peoples inhabiting Earth’s natural environments. The five shifts are: the individual need to decolonize one’s mind; understand the history of colonization and how it shaped Western ecology; facilitate access to and dissemination of data; recognize diverse scientific expertise; and establish inclusive research groups. Although it can be difficult to make reforms given how resistant institutions are to change, we are optimistic because we have received invitations to speak on these issues. People are ready for these conversations.

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Nature 612, 179 (2022)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-03824-z

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Updates & Corrections

  • Correction 23 November 2022: An earlier version of this story misspelt Madhusudan Katti’s name. The text has been corrected.

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