Elena Bastidas, Ph.D., faculty in the Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution (DCAR) in NSU’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS) and DCAR doctoral graduate Gwendolyn Smith, Ph.D., presented at the Humanities as Science Matters Conference held in O’Porto, Portugal. Their presentation was entitled “Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Science.” It featured their research of the Trio indigenous peoples living in the Amazonian rainforest in Suriname.
The Trio peoples have lived in the rainforests for approximately 5,000 years. The research sought to understand their learning system and the diversity of connections they make between nature and humanity. With quantitative and qualitative data analysis they researched the Trio view on local climate change, including their factual knowledge, cultural values and beliefs and their attitude towards climate change.
Smith is an environmental conflict specialist and biotechnologist with Attune in Suriname. She was with Amazon Conservation Team Suriname (ACT) whose mission is to preserve biodiversity, health and culture by working in partnership with indigenous peoples. In addition to her doctoral degree from NSU, Smith was a Fulbright Scholar while earning her master of science in biotechnology at the University of Texas. She received her bachelor of science in agronomy from the University of Suriname.
Bastidas has taken groups of students to Suriname and Ecuador as part of courses offered through SHSS. She has worked with the government of Suriname to develop conflict resolution capacity.