The challenges, opportunities and future of comparative physiology in the Global South: perspectives of early-career researchers
Researchers in the Global South (GS, developing countries) make valuable contributions to the field of comparative physiology, but face economic and scientific disparities and several unique challenges compared with colleagues in the Global North (developed countries). This Perspective highlights some of the challenges, knowledge gaps and disparities in opportunity faced by GS researchers, especially those at early-career stages. We propose collaborative solutions to help address these issues, and advocate for promoting investment and cultural and societal change for a more inclusive research community. Additionally, we highlight the role of GS researchers in contributing expert knowledge on local biodiversity and the environment; this knowledge can help to shape the future of comparative physiology, allowing us to achieve a better understanding of the evolution of physiological mechanisms and to develop innovative solutions to environmental and biomedical challenges. With this Perspective, we hope to highlight the need to foster a more diverse, equitable and inclusive research landscape in comparative physiology; one that empowers GS scientists to address the global challenges associated with biodiversity loss, climate change and environmental pollution.
Authors
- Andrea B. Webster (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7136-4421)
- Tshepiso L. Majelantle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9931-1727)
- Shannon R. Conradie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8702-638X)
- Anusha Shankar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3043-6126)
- Daniel C. Moreira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1961-7281)
- Mariana V. Capparelli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7517-7623)
- Luisa Maria Diele‐Viegas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9225-4678)
- Matthew J. Noakes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1270-4422)
- Daniela Magalhães Drummond de Mello (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7079-5505)
- Carla Bonetti Madelaire (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4399-715X)
- Celiwe A. Ngcamphalala (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3476-1070)
- Ashleigh C. Donaldson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1586-4744)
- Mariana F. Martins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5835-3023)
- Melissa Bars-Closel
- Georgia K. Kosmala
Institutions
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (IN)
- Universidade Federal da Bahia (BR)
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (BR)
- Universidade de Brasília (BR)
- University of Cape Town (ZA)
- Morpho (United States) (US)
- Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
- University of the Witwatersrand (ZA)
- Mammal Research Institute (PL)
- Universidad Autónoma del Carmen (MX)
- Núcleo de Pesquisas Aplicadas (Brazil) (BR)
- San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research (US)
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (BR)
- University of Pretoria (ZA)
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) (BR)
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (MX)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Experimental Biology
- Published
- 2024-10-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.247888
- Citations
- 11
- Primary Topic
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.05
Funders
- Company of Biologists