Advancing Three-Eyed Seeing at AGU23

Wide open science was the theme of this year’s American Geophysical Union fall meeting in San Francisco, and SEARCH took the opportunity to lead dozens of scientists in a lively discussion of research that includes diverse disciplines, perspectives, and knowledge systems. More than 55 researchers–from scientists and decision makers to philosophers and physicians–engaged with nine members of SEARCH. We referred to Albert Marshall’s concept of two-eyed seeing (seeing with the strength of Indigenous knowledge with one eye and the strength of western knowledge through the other) and noted that our work includes a third eye through which we see with the strength of what decision makers know. Indeed, SEARCH team member Lexi Shultz reprised her logic for encouraging researchers to “walk right up to the boundary” of advocacy–and do not cross. Lexi reminded everyone in the discussion that day to make clear the relevance of their understanding to decision makers at all levels of community and government.