There has been increasing attention paid to scientists from wealthier countries, often in North America or Europe, conducting research in often poorer countries in Africa, Asia, and South America. In fact, the term “helicopter research” describes this practice, in particular when the science is conducted without any inclusion of local communities, and is criticized as colonial way of conducting science. I tend to agree with this critique. But a good chunk of my research is through the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution, which is part of the US federal government. There is just no way to get around the fact that this scientific institution is a colonial institution. I mean, the US essentially fomented secession of the state of Panama (at the time part of the country of Colombia) from the rest of Colombia in order to facilitate the construction of the Panama Canal (you should read the excellent The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914 by David McCullough).
I have spent much of my career working in tropics of Mexico and Central America, including Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama. While I am sure that there have been aspects of helicopter research with that work, by and large the research in Mexico, Honduras, and Costa Rica generally included collaborators from those countries and a fair amount of community engagement. My work in Panama is a little different, because there is a US government institution that we interact with to facilitate permits and other permissions and handle logistics. So there is little required contact or interaction with local scientists that are not part of STRI.
I should hit the pause button here to state that probably most STRI employees in Panama are Panamanian (although the majority of staff scientists are not from Panama), so we do interact with Panamanians while working with STRI. It is also worth noting that the leadership of STRI is aware of the challenge of being a US institution in another country, and has sought solutions to provide greater integration of STRI with the local scientists and communities. This is also an area where STRI is seeking ongoing improvement.
However, the fact remains that I am part of an explicitly colonial arm of the US in another country, and that fact makes me a little uneasy. So what can I, or should I, do about it? I don’t think there are any easy answers. The language, and much of the culture in Panama has been shaped by Spanish colonialism, especially in the canal zone. The fact that I grew up in the US is the result of European colonialism and displacement of Native Americans. I think we are all trapped to some degree in systems of oppression and power that have shaped the world we live in. But I don’t think that is an excuse to ignore the cultural quandaries associated with US scientists working in the tropics. At least for now, my choice is to both acknowledge the reality of the situation and to try and be as fair and ethical as possible while working with STRI. That can entail involving local scientists, trying to learn about modern Panamanian culture, including the native Panamanian culture, and supporting improved equity for Panamanian employees. It also means that this process is ongoing, and I need to continue to educate myself about Panama, and continue to try and improve how our research is conducted in Panama.
I have spent much of my career working in tropics of Mexico and Central America, including Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama. While I am sure that there have been aspects of helicopter research with that work, by and large the research in Mexico, Honduras, and Costa Rica generally included collaborators from those countries and a fair amount of community engagement. My work in Panama is a little different, because there is a US government institution that we interact with to facilitate permits and other permissions and handle logistics. So there is little required contact or interaction with local scientists that are not part of STRI.
I should hit the pause button here to state that probably most STRI employees in Panama are Panamanian (although the majority of staff scientists are not from Panama), so we do interact with Panamanians while working with STRI. It is also worth noting that the leadership of STRI is aware of the challenge of being a US institution in another country, and has sought solutions to provide greater integration of STRI with the local scientists and communities. This is also an area where STRI is seeking ongoing improvement.
However, the fact remains that I am part of an explicitly colonial arm of the US in another country, and that fact makes me a little uneasy. So what can I, or should I, do about it? I don’t think there are any easy answers. The language, and much of the culture in Panama has been shaped by Spanish colonialism, especially in the canal zone. The fact that I grew up in the US is the result of European colonialism and displacement of Native Americans. I think we are all trapped to some degree in systems of oppression and power that have shaped the world we live in. But I don’t think that is an excuse to ignore the cultural quandaries associated with US scientists working in the tropics. At least for now, my choice is to both acknowledge the reality of the situation and to try and be as fair and ethical as possible while working with STRI. That can entail involving local scientists, trying to learn about modern Panamanian culture, including the native Panamanian culture, and supporting improved equity for Panamanian employees. It also means that this process is ongoing, and I need to continue to educate myself about Panama, and continue to try and improve how our research is conducted in Panama.
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