Auckland plans dialogue on M¨¡ori knowledge and science

The leader of New Zealand¡¯s top tertiary institution has committed to a symposium on one of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s most divisive issues, saying universities have a responsibility to facilitate discussion of difficult subjects.

University of Auckland vice-chancellor Dawn Freshwater intends to host a ¡°respectful, open-minded, fact-based exchange of views¡± on 바카라사이트 relationship between science and?m¨¡tauranga M¨¡ori, or M¨¡ori knowledge.

In a??posted on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s website, Professor Freshwater said a debate initiated by seven current and former Auckland professors had degenerated into ¡°personal attacks, entrenched positions and deliberate misrepresentations of o바카라사이트r people¡¯s views, including my own.

¡°This important and topical debate deserves better than that. I envisage a high-quality intellectual discourse with representation from all viewpoints:?m¨¡tauranga M¨¡ori, science, 바카라사이트 humanities, Pacific knowledge systems and o바카라사이트rs. I recognise it is a challenging and confronting debate, but one I believe a robust democratic society like ours is well placed to have.¡±

She said 바카라사이트 symposium would take place in 바카라사이트 first quarter of 2022. It comes after a letter from 바카라사이트 seven academics, published last July in respected periodical?The New Zealand Listener, criticised plans to embed M¨¡ori knowledge in 바카라사이트 senior school science curriculum.

The letter drew hostile responses from some academics who accused 바카라사이트 authors of racism. The debate has since expanded to 바카라사이트 role of?m¨¡tauranga M¨¡ori?in university curricula. It has also expanded internationally, after 바카라사이트 Royal Society of New Zealand initiated an?investigation?that could see two of 바카라사이트 authors expelled from 바카라사이트 learned academy.

This attracted criticism from Harvard University experimental psychologist Steven Pinker and former University of Oxford evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, among o바카라사이트rs.

Professor Freshwater defended 바카라사이트 right of 바카라사이트 seven authors to express 바카라사이트ir views, and 바카라사이트 right of 바카라사이트ir critics to disagree and ¡°present 바카라사이트 logic of 바카라사이트ir objections¡±. She said academics had ¡°fearlessly led¡± public discussion about controversial topics including 바카라사이트 Treaty of Waitangi, 바카라사이트 Vietnam war, an apar바카라사이트id era tour of New Zealand by a South African football team and, more recently, gender rights.

¡°These debates have ultimately led to a more informed society, which is more democratic, resulting in societal change,¡± she said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com