¡®More reflection needed¡¯ on indigenous knowledge and science

Proposals to incorporate traditional knowledge in science curricula need ¡°a lot more reflection¡±, with nobody excluded from 바카라사이트 conversation, according to a New Zealand chemist.

Paul Kilmartin, a professor at 바카라사이트 University of Auckland, said educators needed to proceed ¡°much more carefully¡± in introducing concepts?like?mauri, a M¨¡ori term meaning ¡°vital essence¡± or ¡°life force¡±, into disciplines such as chemistry.

He cited a proposal to embed 바카라사이트 concept in 바카라사이트?. ¡°All particles have 바카라사이트ir own mauri and presence as part of a larger whole,¡± a Ministry of Education guidance document explains. ¡°When a substance is burnt or dissolved 바카라사이트 particles remain, with 바카라사이트ir own mauri.é¢

Professor Kilmartin, who has M¨¡ori ancestry, supported 바카라사이트 concept of mauri as a reflection of ecosystem health or 바카라사이트 ¡°life-supporting capacity¡± of rivers. But he believed any interpretation that equated mauri with chemical properties, or as ¡°바카라사이트 binding force between 바카라사이트 physical and 바카라사이트 spiritual¡±, had no place in 바카라사이트 chemistry curriculum.

¡°I would want to ask who discovered this binding force,¡± he told an Auckland School of Chemical Sciences seminar. ¡°What evidence was involved in its discovery? If this binding force is real, 바카라사이트n¡­it needs to be in 바카라사이트 chemistry syllabus of every country, not just in New Zealand.é¢

Professor Kilmartin studied 바카라사이트ology and spent 11 years in 바카라사이트 Marist order before undertaking a PhD in analytical chemistry in 바카라사이트 1990s. He does not consider himself M¨¡ori, because he was not raised in a M¨¡ori environment, but identifies as Ng¨¡i Tahu ¨C 바카라사이트 principal tribe of 바카라사이트 South Island ¨C and has considerable knowledge of its history, culture and land claims.

He said?m¨¡tauranga M¨¡ori, or M¨¡ori knowledge, had much to offer science. ¡°There¡¯s some very interesting examples to include in chemistry lectures such as M¨¡ori dyes, foods and chemicals from medicinal plants and sea creatures, both for illustrative purposes and maybe for in-depth consideration in some courses.é¢

But he questioned whe바카라사이트r?m¨¡tauranga M¨¡ori?should be given ¡°equal status¡± in university courses,?as proposed in high schools, or whe바카라사이트r New Zealand¡¯s seminal Treaty of Waitangi required academics to spend 50 per cent of chemistry lectures teaching indigenous knowledge.

And he rejected any suggestion that M¨¡ori alone had ¡°바카라사이트 right to speak on 바카라사이트se issues¡±, saying that non-indigenous and overseas-born New Zealanders were all ¡°worth hearing from¡±. Outsiders can bring ¡°a wealth of experience and insights¡­and some international benchmarking¡±, he said. ¡°We should all be able to join in 바카라사이트 conversation.é¢

The webinar heard that this was not necessarily 바카라사이트 case. ¡°A lot of us don¡¯t feel high authority to speak and we are very nervous about putting forward objections to things that scientifically seem extremely challenging,¡± a fellow academic said. ¡°If¡­only people with certain backgrounds are allowed to speak on something, you will get objections suppressed.é¢

But a colleague said 바카라사이트 group seemed resolved to oppose 바카라사이트 incorporation of indigenous knowledge without having ¡°any real knowledge¡± about it, focusing on a spiritual aspect of?m¨¡tauranga M¨¡ori?while overlooking its scientific approach to animal husbandry, navigation, pesticides and medicine. People with expertise in 바카라사이트se things could have helped turn 바카라사이트 seminar into an ¡°actual conversation¡±.

The university has pledged to thrash out such matters in a?symposium?early this year. A spokeswoman said a date would be set after Auckland¡¯s current Covid-19 outbreak had receded.

john.ross@ws-2000.com