Increasing Pacific Islander research and authorship in the academic literature

Sangeeta Mangubhai; Ron Vave; Shereen Shabina Begg; Mereoni Chung; Semaema Vakaciriwaqa Dileqa; Yimnang Golbuu; Chelcia Gomese; Romitesh Kant; Salanieta Kitolelei; Ravinesh Ram; Nunia Thomas; Rufino Varea; Andra Whiteside

doi:10.1071/PC25011

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Next Contents Vol 31(4)

Increasing Pacific Islander research and authorship in the academic literature

Sangeeta Mangubhai

^A ^* , Ron Vave

^B , Shereen Shabina Begg

^C , Mereoni Chung ^A , Semaema Vakaciriwaqa Dileqa

^D , Yimnang Golbuu

^E , Chelcia Gomese

^F , Romitesh Kant

^G , Salanieta Kitolelei

^C ^H , Ravinesh Ram ^I , Nunia Thomas ^D , Rufino Varea ^J and Andra Whiteside ^K

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Talanoa Consulting, 42 Knollys Street, Suva, Fiji.

^B Department of Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.

^C University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji.

^D NatureFiji-MareqetiViti, 72 McGregor Road, Suva, Fiji.

^E The Nature Conservancy, Micronesia and Polynesia, Koror, Palau.

^F University of Wollongong, Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources & Security (ANCORS), Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia.

^G Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia.

^H Tido Consultancy, Vunibelebele, Naivikiwala, Vunisinu, Rewa, Fiji.

^I Department of Fisheries, College of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, Fiji National University, Koronivia Campus, Nasinu, Fiji.

^J Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, 10 Bau Street, Flagstaff, Suva, Fiji.

^K National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa 8011, New Zealand.

^* Correspondence to: smangubhai@gmail.com

Handling Editor: Mike Calver

Pacific Conservation Biology 31, PC25011 https://doi.org/10.1071/PC25011

Submitted: 22 February 2025 Accepted: 22 June 2025 Published: 10 July 2025

© 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Disseminating research through academic publishing is essential for contributing to global knowledge, advancing critical fields and finding solutions to humanity’s challenges. However, for Pacific Islanders, navigating the path to publication can feel like crossing a vast ocean while weighed down by systemic barriers that make sharing knowledge, lived experiences and unique worldviews with the broader academic community difficult. Using an Indigenous talk story methodology (talanoa), discussions were held with early- and mid-career Pacific Island researchers to identify the main barriers collectively faced. These barriers included insufficient time and funding, poor recognition of Indigenous research methodologies, inequitable partnerships with researchers from the Global North, lack of local academic mentors, linguistic hurdles and biases in the academic system. We outline strategies aimed at dismantling systemic barriers faced by Pacific researchers when designing and conducting research, writing manuscripts and publishing in the academic literature. Our discussion highlights pathways for greater inclusion of Pacific scholars in academic publishing to which Global North researchers, academic journals and funding agencies can contribute. Removing barriers is essential to leverage the unique insights of Pacific Island researchers, whose contributions are vital for developing locally-driven, globally impactful solutions to the biodiversity and climate change crises.

Keywords: academia, barrier, discrimination, diversity, equity, Global South, knowledge systems, Pacific countries, researcher.

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