A set of principles and practical suggestions for equitable fieldwork in biology

Abstract

Field biology is an area of research that involves working directly with living organisms in situ through a practice known as “fieldwork.” Conducting fieldwork often requires complex logistical planning within multiregional or multinational teams, followed by collaborative research led by one or a few of the core team members. However, existing power imbalances stemming from geopolitical history, discrimination, and professional position perpetuate inequities in the context of these research endeavors. After reflecting on our own research programs, we propose four general principles to guide equitable, inclusive, ethical, and safe practices in field biology: Be Collaborative, Be Legal, Be Safe, and Be Respectful. Although many field biologists already structure their field programs around these principles or similar values, executing equitable research practices can prove challenging and requires careful consideration, especially by those in positions with relatively greater privilege. Based on experiences and input from a diverse group of global collaborators, we provide suggestions for action-oriented approaches to making field biology more equitable under these guidelines, with particular attention to how those with greater privilege can contribute. While we acknowledge that not all suggestions will be applicable to every institution or program, we hope that they will generate discussions and provide a baseline for training in proactive, equitable fieldwork practices.

Towards a Treatment for the Cactus Family (Cactaceae) on Hispaniola: Generic Key, Species Checklist, Nomenclature Assessments and Distribution Notes.

“…This also honors the access these hosts' national institutions provide to examine their collections. It's not just an expected action by the national authorities and regulations that, at least, a duplicate of every collection must be deposited in a national museum collection, but also, this contributes to the enhancement of ethical practices in science, to foster equitablerespectful collaborations, and will also help to reduce the incidence of helicopter science, a.k.a "parachuting" (Haelewaters et al 2021;Rayadin et al 2021;Ramírez-Castañeda et al 2022), an ongoing practice in countries with colonial histories. This simple action also provides access to data and acknowledges sovereignty to the local scientists, making sure they are equipped with the necessary materials needed to build local capacities for the next generation of botanists to understand the endemic plant diversity around them.…”

Carrying the Moral Burden of Safe Fieldwork

“…None of the following actions are new, but instead come out of numerous studies and workshops (Stokes et al 2019, Greene et al 2020, Abeyta et al 2021, Atchison 2021, Cronin et al 2021, Flowers et al 2021, Kelly and Yarincik 2021, Langen et al 2022, Ramírez‐Castañeda et al 2022, Toone et al 2022). Many supervisors are already implementing these actions, or have called for them to be implemented.…”

A Survey and Analysis of the History of Ernest Henry Wilson’s Specimen Collections in China

“…Concurrently, the dissemination of botanical resources has gradually become globalized [1][2][3]. Therefore, a thorough investigation into plant dissemination, including the study of dissemination materials, like specimens [4]; dissemination methods, e.g., transnational collection; disseminators, such as plant collectors; and the history of modern plant dissemination in China will contribute to raising awareness for the protection of local plant resources. During the rapid development of capitalism, Western countries, leveraging long-term practical production experience, established specialized botanical research institutions to promote economic development [5].…”