Pack up the parachute: why global north–south collaborations need to change
Published on 1 August 2023
Some great perspectives from global-south researchers wanting equal partnerships that value intellectual exchange in this career feature piece for the Nature Journal.
Most scientific-journal articles come from wealthy countries in the global north. Often, well-funded researchers initiate short-term projects in southern countries — which are typically poorer and often have a history of colonial occupation — frequently without seeking substantive local input or expertise. Dubbed parachute or helicopter research, this is a long-standing tradition steeped in colonialism, say those campaigning for change.