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  • CAREER FEATURE

Pack up the parachute: why global north–south collaborations need to change

Global-south researchers want equal partnerships that value intellectual exchange.
  1. Virginia Gewin

    1. Virginia Gewin is a freelance writer in Portland, Oregon.

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Ocean Mercier standing in a forest near a tree, smiling.

Marine scientist Ocean Mercier says requests to collaborate with researchers in the global south should be sincere and respectful. Credit: Grant Maiden

Most scientific-journal articles come from wealthy countries in the global north. Often, well-funded researchers initiate short-term projects in southern countries — which are typically poorer and often have a history of colonial occupation — frequently without seeking substantive local input or expertise. Dubbed parachute or helicopter research, this is a long-standing tradition steeped in colonialism, say those campaigning for change.

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Nature 619, 885-887 (2023)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-02313-1

These interviews edited for length and clarity.

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