Talanoa and Community Partnerships: Indigeneity and Science Lessons from the Pacific (Levu & Dutra)

This webinar "Talanoa and Community Engagement Partnerships: Indigeneity and Science Lessons from the Pacific" hosted by the ITD Alliance Oceania Regional Network brought 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 shared stories and practical lessons from their extensive collaboration across the Pacific since 2016, they discussed what it takes to build partnerships that are grounded in trust, reciprocity, and local priorities—moving beyond short-term projects toward sustained collaboration. They explored how Indigenous knowledge and scientific approaches can complement one another, leading to effective impacts and offered reflections on what respectful, enduring partnerships can look like in practice for communities, researchers, and institutions working in the region. Moderated by Giedre Kligyte, of the TD School at the University of Technology Sydney, the session was attended by around 35 people, more than half of whom stayed for the extended informal question and answer session afterwards (which was not recorded). The webinar was recorded on May 7, 2026. The webinar is a project of The ITD Alliance Oceania Regional Network, a network of individuals and institutions that aims to increase connections and knowledge sharing among people 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. Learn more at: https://itd-alliance.org/oceania-regi...