Talanoa and Community Engagement Partnerships: Indigeneity and Science Lessons from the Pacific

Join us for this ITD Alliance Oceania Regional Network Webinar and open discussion ("Talanoa")! Gain insights on leading transdisciplinary centres and programs and meet new colleagues from across the Oceania region.

This talk brings together an Indigenous iTaukei (Fijian) practitioner, Adi Vasulevu Merewalesi Levu, and a Brazilian scientist based in Australia, Leo Dutra, to reflect on how meaningful community engagement creates the foundation for long-term relationships through their experiences working across the Pacific. Through shared stories and practical lessons from their extensive collaboration since 2016, they will discuss what it takes to build partnerships that are grounded in trust, reciprocity, and local priorities—moving beyond short-term projects toward sustained collaboration. The speakers will explore how Indigenous knowledge and scientific approaches can complement one another, leading to effective impacts and will offer reflections on what respectful, enduring partnerships can look like in practice for communities, researchers, and institutions working in the region. Download the flyer for details and speaker biographies.

Moderation will be by Giedre Kligyte of the Transdisciplinary School at the University of Technology Sydney. This hour-long webinar will be followed by a 30-minute open discussion – a Talanoa – where you can connect with others across Oceania who are passionate about inter- and transdisciplinarity. A recording of the webinar will be available from the ITD Alliance Oceania Regional Network web page after the event.

ITD Alliance Oceania Regional Network
This event is organised by the ITD Alliance Oceania Regional Network, co-founded by the ITD Alliance (Global Alliance for Inter- and Transdisciplinarity) in partnership with NITRO-Oceania (Network of Leaders of Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Research Organisations in the Oceania region) to increase connections and knowledge sharing among individuals and institutions engaged in inter- and transdisciplinary practice, research and education in the Oceania region and to strengthen our global voice about the unique characteristics of Oceania. Visit the network web page and subscribe for notice of future activities.