Is "Helicopter Research" a serious issue in soil science? We asked @BudimanSoil, Mitiku Haile @MekUniETH, @KenGiller, and Tammo Steenhuis @CUSoilWater. @dr_firelady and @JWvanGroenigen wrote the accompanying editorial. A thread; all free access (1/n) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114418

“Helicopter Research”: non-local scientists going to developing/Indigenous regions & publishing results without care for the interests of the local scientists/people. For soil science, this was raised by @BudimanSoil & Dian Fiantis @UnandOfficial in https://theconversation.com/helicopter-research-who-benefits-from-international-studies-in-indonesia-102165
(2/n)

We invited @BudimanSoil and Dian Fiantias @UnandOfficial to expand their article to a Discussion Article for @Geoderma_Jrnl, now also co-authored by Budi Mulyanto @ipbofficial, @yiyisulaeman and Wirastuti Widyatmanti @UGMYogyakarta. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114299 (3/n)

We subsequently invited several scholars with different perspectives to respond. The first response is from Mitiku Haile, Professor in Soil Science at Mekelle University in Ethiopia. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114300 @MekUniETH (4/n)

The second response is from @KenGiller, professor in Plant Production Systems at Wageningen University in The Netherlands, who has been doing research in Africa for most of his career (e.g. #N2Africa @gatesfoundation). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114302 @WURplant (5/n)

The third response is from Tammo Steenhuis @CUSoilWater, with co-authors Seifu Tilahun, Fasikaw Zimale, Mamaru Moges, Temesgen Enku @BahirDarUnivers, Amy Collick @UMESNews, @DavidGuzzy, Charles Nicholson @radboudNSM, Alice Pell @Cornell
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114301 @CUSoilWater (6/n)

Subsequently, @BudimanSoil, Dian Fiantias @UnandOfficial, Budi Mulyanto @ipbofficial, @yiyisulaeman and Wirastuti Widyatmanti @UGMYogyakarta respond to the comments https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114303 (7/n)

We conclude in our editorial that Helicopter Research is a topic that needs to be addressed in soil science. This requires, among other things, involving local experts early on, building an enabling environment, and creating good support networks. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114418 (8/n)

We will amend our "Instructions for Authors" to state that we normally expect articles with primary data collection in developing countries or Indigenous communities to include authors from the regions concerned. We will also do our best to find at least one local reviewer. (9/n)

We think that this is just the starting point for a discussion on Helicopter Research in soil science. We do invite additional contributions to this discussion, especially from different perspectives not explicitly addressed here (e.g. career stage, gender, Indigenous). (10/n)

If you are interested in writing a contribution, send us a DM to share contact info. We will post contributions with a novel, interesting perspective on our website and may publish some as Letter to the Editor in @Geoderma_Jrnl. (11/n)

Finally, we would like to thank the contributors to the discussion; our fellow Editors of @Geoderma_Jrnl for their comments on the editorial; and especially @KelseyTLeonard and @JaredDahlAldern for their constructive comments! (12/12) @dr_firelady @JWvanGroenigen