Connecting our research with the island and the community is central to responsible and informed science. Aligning our priorities facilitates active engagement and outreach, reciprocal exchange of knowledge, and positive research outcomes.

Below, we show how the priorities for scientific research in Moorea are both aligned and misaligned between residents and visiting scientists. This can help inform how we approach our scientific studies in Moorea and, importantly, our engagement with and outreach to the community. It should be noted that while these priorities are ordered below, residents of Moorea see all research topics as both important and connected with one another. Research that spans multiple topics and focuses on land-sea connections are of particular interest. For tips on how to incorporate local priorities and co-develop scientific research, see our page on approaching science outside of our home.

Here, we provide a few examples of past and ongoing engagement actions that have a positive and reciprocal impact. Many intend to achieve the following goals:  1) Increasing communication and transparency, 2) providing collaborative and equitable access to research opportunities and acknowledging Polynesian contributions, 3) supporting youth education, and 4) building recognition of Polynesian culture and values, reflecting a clear and profound respect for the community and Moorea's natural resources. Certain initiatives may have attributes relevant to more than one of these categories. 

Many have concluded, but please don’t hesitate to revive these initiatives, either in leadership or contributing roles. These are only a few select examples which might springboard your own endeavors in Moorea or provide some ideas - visiting researchers can consult pages on parachute science and local stewardship efforts and reach out to outreach coordinators or moderators for additional information (i.e. to add resources, opportunities for collaboration, etc).

Increasing Communication and Transparency

Exchange of Knowledge Through Video Media - 2022

Graduate students worked with Te Pū 'Ātiti'a and the Atitia Center in 2022 to create 15 research videos narrated in Tahitian that gave an inside look into their research questions, methods, and results. These videos were created to build transparency and exchange knowledge with the community. These videos will be shared with the local community and youth educational programs through an online platform currently being developed and will be distributed to schools across the island.

Visit the pages on communication and language for more.

Access to Research Opportunities and Acknowledgement of Polynesian Contributions

This is something that the local community has expressed interest in. Contact the outreach coordinators if you have ideas/information and  visit the pages on Research and Stewardship in French Polynesia.

Youth Education

This is something that the local community has expressed interest in. Contact the outreach coordinators if you have ideas/information and  visit the pages on respect/self awareness, language, and approaching science outside our home.

Building Recognition of Polynesian Culture and Values

Tahitian Language Classes

In the July of 2022, two students from the University of French Polynesia, Herenui Vanaa and Tagihia Mauati were hired to teach  introductory Tahitian language lessons to visiting researchers. Over two weeks they taught 6 group lessons and narrated 15 individual research videos in Tahitian. You can find worksheets and audio recordings of these lessons here.

Invited Speakers 

Polynesian speakers were invited to give talks at Gump station in August of 2022 starting with Vehia Wheeler, a Moorean scientist and PhD candidate. Vehia shared her research on incorporating traditional practices into western science and the hurdles that need to be overcome. Speakers are compensated for their time and have previously been paid for through individual scientist or lab funds. These initiatives were set up to create more recognition of Polynesian culture and start creating a more consistent relationship between the community of Moorea and visiting researchers at Gump.

Visit the pages on respect/self awareness, language, and approaching science outside our home