In 2021, the publication of a letter in the Listener ignited a debate on the relationship between science and mātauranga Māori. This debate is important for New Zealand, but it may be surprising to learn that similar debates have occurred elsewhere. Japan once grappled with how to reconcile traditions and traditional knowledge with scientific ideas.

In this talk, Anthony will recount Japan’s journey from “Sakoku” (closed country) to modern scientific nation. He will provide examples of how traditional knowledge in Japan has inspired scientific research, as well as some of the challenges that emerge when science and culture interact. He will share thoughts on lessons New Zealand might draw from examining Japan’s path to becoming a global science powerhouse.

After completing a BSc (Hons) at Massey University, Dr Poole was awarded a Japanese Government Monbusho scholar to study at the University of Tokyo. As well as training in molecular and developmental biology, this gave him an opportunity to connect with the culture and traditions of his mother’s side of the family, igniting an interest in the interface between science and culture. He later completed degrees at Stockholm University, Sweden, and Massey University. Anthony has held positions at Stockholm University and at the University of Canterbury, and his lab at the University of Auckland uses experimental bacterial evolution and synthetic biology tools to address the evolutionary origins of DNA.