1. Indigenize genomics to understand the drivers of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes

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My work seeks to understand how stewardship practices in Indigenous agroecosystems shape biodiversity, using genomic tools such as DNA metabarcoding and environmental DNA (eDNA), along with theoretical foundations from community ecology, entomology, and agroecology. 

 

Since this work takes place on Indigenous lands, I find it imperative to engage in Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDS) practices to expand who benefits from the research and uphold community governance. However, beyond its ethical importance, IDS improves the science while making it more impactful and reproducible in the long term. You can find my efforts highlighted in Science Magazine. 

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The volumes of data generated in biodiversity genomics research are outpacing current governance structures.  My current research is addressing this in two ways. First, through an international survey to capture who is working in biodiversity genomics, on whose lands they work, and what knowledge they have of IDS. Second, as an affiliate of the Te Kotahi Research Institute, I am developing Access and Benefit-Sharing materials for global implementation in eDNA research. ​​​