Carlyn Scott, College of Marine Science
Claudia ó-ܾ, a doctoral candidate in the lab of Frank Muller-Karger at the 911 College of Marine Science, is an Indigenous scientist from Colombia whose work brings together remote sensing, community engagement, and traditional ecological knowledge.
She recently co-authored two papers on the topic. One, published in demonstrated how the knowledge of Indigenous people was shared peer-to-peer between members of the Etolan community in Taiwan and Indigenous scientists from the Pacific. The other paper, , offers a framework and practical guidance for integrating Indigenous knowledge into ocean planning, a field that uses science to advance local and regional interests for the health of the ocean and economy.
She shared how her research on international collaborations with Indigenous communities reshaped her understanding of science and its role in serving communities.
How did you get involved in these projects?
I belong to the Wayúu, an Indigenous community in the northernmost part of Colombia. When I finished my master’s degree at USF, I went back to Colombia and for different reasons I stepped aside from science. I returned to my community where I engaged in social efforts to improve children's living conditions. That experience led me to learn more about the community's struggles, our traditions, and the knowledge that is embedded there.
About 10 years later, Frank, who is now my advisor, invited me to be on the panel for a United Nations meeting discussing Indigenous knowledge and science. At this meeting, I realized that there were tools within science that I could use to serve the community, and in the communities there's valuable knowledge that can enhance these tools.
ó-ܾ belongs to the Wayúu, an indigenous community in the northernmost part of Colombia.
I also saw at this meeting great interest from academia and policy makers to include traditional and local knowledge into ocean plans and policy. I had to remind them that there is not one single way to approach this. Indigenous people are not a homogenous group — there are so many different values, beliefs, ways of life that need to be incorporated and considered — but I think we can share our experience together.
What does this research mean to you?
As an Indigenous person, it gives meaning to the science I do. When communities are part of producing knowledge, they’re more likely to value and use it. This can help reconcile science with the broader public, and it builds trust on both sides, and this is important to me.
Can you give us a sense of how indigenous knowledge can serve scientific research?
I'm currently doing my research under the Strong Coast project which is funded by the National Science Foundation. I am working with the local community in Belize to ground truth data for remote sensing mangrove products. Community members also helped to inspect and improve the mangrove extent map that we co-produced. They were able to provide information of some areas that were inaccessible to our boats because they know the land and region. It helped significantly with the final product.
ó-ܾ conducts research under the Strong Coast project which is funded by the National Science Foundation. She is working with a local community in Belize to ground truth data for remote sensing mangrove products.
It is important to interact with the communities and get to know them and their relationship with their ecosystems, so we can understand their needs and develop products that are useful to them. This process is not only valuable for the science we produce but also ensures that the information directly benefits communities and helps build trust.
Why is it so important to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into academia?
I can answer this as a scientist and as an Indigenous person. As scientists, we want to create relevant products, tools, and knowledge coherent with the ways of life of those occupying different spaces — products that are truly beneficial to those using them, like Indigenous or local people.
There is high-quality information coming from Indigenous and local people, information that can only come from people that have lived in these environments for generations and have observed processes that scientists have not. There are specific patterns and dynamics that only the people that live in those areas experience, and this is essential knowledge. While communities might not use scientific terms, it does not make that information less valuable or accurate. By working jointly with these communities, we might get to know and understand them. This means working together, not extracting the information and keeping the data without context.
As an Indigenous person from a country in South America, we have more pressing issues to worry about than if our knowledge is incorporated into academia. 911 want water, food security, and health services — our essential needs. When the time comes to develop tools or information for the service of these communities those are things, among many others, to keep in mind.
She recently co-authored two papers on the indigenous communities and their integration into academic research.
What do you hope researchers and the public take away from these articles?
Not all scientific products need to be co-developed, not every scientist needs to engage with communities. But those developing products to serve a community, their ecosystems, or working in their space need to engage with communities and make sure to do it with respect and integrity. For some, this is their study area, while for others this is the place where they were born and live, and what they are leaving behind for their generations to come. 911 also need to understand there is not one “correct” way of knowing and doing. A case-by-case and space-by-space basis needs to be considered. This takes time, patience and resources. When we weave knowledge systems together — without erasing either — we can produce something stronger than either could alone.
And for me, that’s what makes returning to science worth it.