JAKARTA: The celebratory atmosphere around the rediscovery of a rare species of rafflesia parasitic plant in the past week has been eclipsed by a public relations disaster,
The rediscovery that raised concerns about lingering academic colonialism by Western institutions that often put researchers from places like Indonesia in the back seat of the scientific process.
The debacle on social media revolved around a University of Oxford post on social media, which celebrated the rediscovery of Rafflesia hasseltii, locally known as cendawan muka rimau, at the Sumpur Kudus community forest in Sijunjung regency, West Sumatra on Nov 19.
The plant was rediscovered in an expedition by Bengkulu-based conservationist Septian Andriki, Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum deputy director Chris Thorogood and National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) botanist Joko
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