Welcome Cocktails of the Inaugural Pacific Academy of Sciences Congress

2026-02-17 - 03:08

KEYNOTE SPEECH: by the Minister of Education and Culture, Hon. Aiono Alec Ekeroma. Esteemed colleagues, distinguished guests, ladies, gentlemen and friends It is my pleasure to address you tonight after a historic day in participating in the very first Congress held by the Pacific Academy of Sciences. Today provides a testament to our region’s intent of leading scientific discoveries and diplomacy that benefits our people. It demonstrates our intent on how we choose and actively participate in how we shape our future, particularly in this digital age. The Pacific has always been a region of exploration, deep knowledge and innovation. Our ancestors were expert navigators who transversed vast oceans, deep seas and unchartered waters. Our communities have sustained our rich cultures, traditional complex governance systems and sustainable environmental practices for generations. What we have heard so far at this congress, is how our researchers today are leading work on climate resilience, oceans and marine biodiversity and the importance of traditional knowledge that will guide us for the future. However, much of this knowledge remains fragmented, hard to access and is often invisible particularly in global scientific agendas. But there is much that we can say and share for the benefit of our global community, let alone our island nations, our villages and our children. Pacific research, knowledge and scholarship need to be recognised in global debates that directly impacts us. Decisions about our region require evidence and data – the most qualified to do that are our own people. Photo Credit: Litia Taeteo Avaiata (Government of Samoa) If our own evidence, our own knowledge, our own voices are not heard, are kept hidden and rendered invisible, then others will continue to speak for us. The concern is that those who have never been here to our part of the world will continue to represent us. Do not get me wrong, we need partnership, collaboration and cooperation with other scientists and scholars. However, this science only makes sense for us, if it can be locally applied for outcomes that benefit us. This is why our people need a voice, a platform and a way to amplify the research excellence and science that is here in the region that can transcend traditional boundaries of distance, isolation and fragmentation. Therefore, it is my pleasure to officially launch the Pacific Research Hub. The first Pacific-specific online research platform powered by artificial intelligence. Ladies and gentlemen today is more than a platform launch – it demonstrates how we bring Pacific knowledge that has lasted for generations with new scientific technologies and advancements. It is built for the Pacific, by the Pacific, in partnership with the Pacific. At this point I’d like to thank and acknowledge UNESCO for their support in helping to get this platform from an idea to an eventuality. In simple terms the Pacific Research Hub is: A place where Pacific researchers, practitioners and knowledge holders can share their work openly. A space to connect and collaborate across islands, disciplines and sectors. A tool that uses AI to help us to find, organise and elevate Pacific knowledge. While it is inspired by ResearchGate, the Pacific Research Hub is not a copy. It is tailored to who we are as a region and what we need as Pacific peoples. One of the most important aspects of this initiative is how it has been developed. It brings immense pride to see how the Academy has been able to facilitate this digital hub of knowledge exchange which combines the latest cutting-edge technology with Pacific leadership and ownership Too often, digital tools used in the Pacific are designed elsewhere, with assumptions and values that do not fit our realities. In this case: The platform was designed by Samoan software engineer, Sonny Lemalu. The priorities and features were defined together with leading ICT experts in the Pacific including the Academy Founding Fellow Professor Ioana Chan Mow. Ownership and governance lies within the Pacific and not imposed from outside. This means the Research Hub can adapt as our needs evolve. It can respond to feedback by Pacific users. We must ensure it benefits the next generation of Pacific scholars, innovators and leaders. Launching the Pacific Regional Hub is only the first step. It success depends on the people who use it, and a commitment to invest in its sustainability over time. So tonight, I want to extend a clear invitation: To researchers and academics: sign up, create your profiles and share your work that can be shared as a base for Pacific collaboration. To institutions and universities: I encourage you to partner with the Academy to support your staff and students to use the platform so that Pacific voices remain at the fore of Pacific scientific debates. To policymakers and practitioners: use it to identify our experts from the within the region. You never know who you may find who can provide you real life experiences from our region. To regional and international partners. I hope you follow the lead of UNESCO and help to support the continued development of the Pacific Research Hub, and ensure Pacific evidence is used at the table in global decision-making. Tonight we are launching more than a web platform we are launching a digital vaka, vaa, outrigger – that can carry our shared knowledge across islands, across disciplines and across generations. On behalf of the Government of Samoa and the Pacific Academy of Sciences, I am honoured to declare the Pacific Research Hub official launched. Thank you ma ia manuia.