Seeking Feedback on Ethical Collaboration Standards Towards Decolonizing Mycology

Seeking Feedback on Ethical Collaboration Standards Towards Decolonizing Mycology

Abeer Alqurashi1, Anna Bazzicalupo2, Sonya Erlandson3, Elizabeth Feliciano4, Brian Lovett5, Geromy Moore6

 

1 Assistant Professor, Biology Department, Taif University, Saudi Arabia; MSA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee; she/her/hers

2 Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; MSA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee; she/her/hers

3 Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Ag., Hort., and Plant Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Oceti Sakowin; MSA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee; she/her/hers

4 Ph.D. student, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, on the traditional lands of the Timucua peoples; MSA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee; she/her/hers

5 Postdoctoral Researcher, Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, on the traditional lands of the Osage, Shawnee, and Massawomeck peoples; MSA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee; he/him/his

6 Researcher, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Southern Regional Research Center, New Orleans, LA 70124, on the traditional lands of the Chahta Yakni (Choctaw) people; MSA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee; he/him/his

At the end of last year, a scientific publication revealed that German scientists stole a dinosaur fossil, Ubirajara jubatus, from Brazil. Despite the notoriety of this fossil, even as the Brazilian community demands its return it remains at the State Museum of Natural History Karlsruhe in Germany [1].

Such colonial science is unfortunately all too common today, particularly in fields that rely heavily on museum specimens. In addition, Indigenous collaborators, land acknowledgements, and specimens are often excluded from publications. Thus, the MSA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee is resolved to facilitate more ethical collaboration in our community through discussion and policy. Our goals include:

  1. Raise awareness of ethical collaboration in our MSA community.
  2. Create policies to ensure Indigenous collaborators, land, and specimens are properly credited.
  3. Through recognition, ultimately foster an equitable and welcoming environment for all who are interested in science and research.

We would like to develop policies for Mycologia that would guide authors on ethically crediting collaborations. We are seeking MSA member feedback on this initiative. What are your thoughts on these issues and what standards do you follow for your own work? Please direct feedback and questions to Brian Lovett at brian.lovett@mail.wvu.edu and Elizabeth Feliciano at efeliciano@ufl.edu. We appreciate your consideration and time.

Reference

1Greshko, M. 2020, December 22. One-of-a-kind dinosaur removed from Brazil sparks backlash, investigation. National Geographic