Decolonial science in the Amazon demands active and equitable seats at the table

Scientific collaborations in the Amazon often reproduce historical and structural inequalities that limit local leadership in knowledge production. Although funding and international attention have increased, local researchers are often confined to data collection while external actors define research priorities and receive intellectual recognition. Based on my trajectory as an Amazonian scientist, I argue that decolonial science requires structural transformation, shared decision-making, equitable recognition, and sustained investment in local scientific leadership, rather than symbolic inclusion.