The first Samoan person to graduate with a PhD in physics at the University of Auckland has encouraged Pasifika students to remember that they belong and can succeed in academia.
Dr Sean Richards, who grew up as fa’a pālagi in Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands, graduated as the first Samoan astrophysicist from the university this week. There have only been two other Samoan doctorate graduates in University of Auckland’s Faculty of Science between 2001 to 2021.
Richards described graduating in the field of astrophysics as continuing a path set by “our ancestors” who used the stars to navigate the Pacific Ocean.
“Looking back at how our ancestors sailed the South Pacific by starlight thousands of years ago, and then now we are able to understand them better than ever, I think it is very auspicious that the first Pasifika PhD graduate in physics is specifically in astrophysics, and specifically in stellar physics,” they told RNZ Pacific.
Richards said it was important for Pasifika people to be able to see themselves in positions of responsibility.
“It shows that they individually belong within disciplines that have historically excluded them, whether by intention or not.”
“I see that with queer students looking up towards queer academics. I see that with Māori and Pasifika students looking up to the Māori and Pasifika academics that we have in the faculty.”
Richards said the biggest marker of success is not being the first Samoan with a PhD in physics, but seeing more Pasifika people succeeding in their undergraduate studies and then staying on to do honours, master’s, PhD, graduate diplomas, and higher degrees.
Richards believes dedicated pathways remain crucial for helping Pasifika students succeed in higher education, adding that Māori and Pacific peer support programmes have been essential throughout their life and academic journey.
Richards is also an advocate for investment in programmes that help underrepresented groups reach higher levels of study.
“Science as an institution thrives when there are diverse voices [and] people contributing ideas.”
Richards’ message to aspiring Pasifika astrophysicists is that: “Science as an institution is better off [with] you in it and you belong and can succeed and can thrive in the institution and in academia.”
