Most Namibian geoscientists who work on mining and energy projects see their engagement with local communities as a one-way exercise in which they explain the science rather than listen to residents. That is the central finding of a study by Marina Joubert and Josephine Uushona, which interviewed 13 geoscientists aged 30 to 40 working in government, industry and universities.
The research comes at a time of rapid expansion in Namibia's resource sector. The country is a major producer of uranium and also mines diamonds, gold, zinc, copper and rare earths. In 2022, Shell and TotalEnergies reported sizeable offshore oil reserves, and the same year brought the largest rare earth element discovery in the country's history. Exploration of this kind often takes place in rural areas where people depend on land and water for their livelihoods.
Only two of the 13 scientists described engagement as a two-way process. Eight said they saw value in scientists learning from communities, but the dominant view treated outreach as a matter of informing people. Every interviewee said they felt confident engaging with the public, yet most wanted formal training to do it better. The researchers also found that engagement is rarely rewarded, with little institutional recognition or evaluation attached to it.
The scientists identified practical barriers, including limited time and money, confidentiality rules that restrict what they can share, remote locations, and communication that is dominated by English. They also pointed to Namibia's colonial and extractive history, which has fed mistrust of state institutions and of expertise more broadly. That mistrust matters in places such as Stampriet, where uranium exploration has raised concerns among local residents about groundwater.
The study suggests that closing the gap will require more than goodwill. Building trust, according to the findings, depends on training, time and recognition for work that now tends to go unrewarded.
Credit. Based on reporting by Marina Joubert for The Conversation Science. Is this your work? Write to us.
11
