Engaging Indigenous Communities Regarding Forest Biotechnologies: Lessons from Aotearoa, (New Zealand)
Dr. Phillip Wilcox, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Otago, New Zealand
Senior Scientist, Scion
Thursday, February 13 | 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Caseroom #2916
Coffee/tea at the table for the first 30 attendees
Phil Wilcox is currently a senior scientist at the NZ Crown Research Institute, Scion, and a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Otago. His PhD was in mapping disease resistance genes in forest trees and he has a background in molecular and quantitative genetics. He has led research projects in linkage and QTL mapping, association genetics in plant species, and recently led a cross-sector multi-organization ‘Virtual Institute of Statistical Genetics’. He is of Ngāti Rakaipaaka, Rongomaiwahine and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa and pakeha descent, and is the mandated spokesperson for Ngati Rakaipaaka regarding a health and ancestry study undertaken with this iwi a number of years ago.
He has also developed engagement frameworks for scientists working with Maori communities and is currently working with a team of Māori researchers developing culturally appropriate guidelines for biobanking and medical genomics. He recently has been appointed as a ‘Maori champion’ in the National Science Challenge ‘New Zealand’s Biological Heritage’ as well as the BioProtection Centre of Research Excellence.
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