Reimagining Scientific Inquiry through Community Engagement in Heritage Science
By Thiago Puglieri, PhD
This presentation aims to foster a dialogue with scholars in Health Equity & Translational Social Science to identify and integrate community-engaged methodologies that can enhance the social impact, data sovereignty, and ethical rigor of research in Heritage Science – the scientific study of culturally significant materials. Our fundamental question is how can scientific inquiry move beyond “studying” Indigenous cultures to “partnering” with them? While Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) is a cornerstone of fields like healthcare and archaeology, it remains an untapped frontier in Heritage Science. When investigating Indigenous cultural items, traditional laboratory research often mirrors the ethical failures and power imbalances found in historical medical research. In this presentation, we discuss a collaborative model for Heritage Science that prioritizes Indigenous protocols and community-led ethics. By highlighting the structural challenges of this transdisciplinary work, we are specifically seeking to bridge the gap between our fields. Come and join us to discuss how your expertise in healthcare community-based partnerships can help reimagine the future of scientific inquiry into heritage science.
Thiago Puglieri, PhD Assistant Professor, UCLA Department of Art History & UCLA/ Getty IDP in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage
In-person location = Semel B8-225
UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, Conference Room B8-225, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024
