A recent rediscovery of the extremely rare Rafflesia hasseltii, a giant parasitic red flower, in a forest in Indonesia’s West Sumatra has sparked backlash following an initial social media post by Oxford University that left out local researchers involved in the search and credited only its scientist.
The uproar has exposed the perceived lack of equal recognition for Western researchers and their Global South counterparts when they collaborate, and the lingering legacy of colonialism in academia, observers say.
The encounter on November 17 with the white-speckled blossom with its giant petals was made possible through a partnership between Indonesian flower hunter Septian Andriki, a team from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) led by Joko Witono, Oxford’s Chris Thorogood, an associate professor of biology, as well as local guide Iswandi.
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Thorogood posted a personal video on social media of Septian on his knees and sobbing with joy upon finding the flower, which later went viral and attracted international attention.
“I witnessed the blooming process. After 13 years of searching, a 20-hour journey, and a three-hour hike, it bloomed right before my eyes. I was moved. Chris said I was over-hallucinating, and Iswandi said I was possessed,” Septian quipped to This Week in Asia.
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The buzz over the rare flower quickly turned sour, however, when Oxford University did not mention Septian and his Indonesian colleagues in its social media post.