Are you conducting research in other countries or working with communities different from your own? Have you ever paused to reflect on how the ways we design and carry out research can affect the people, places, and knowledge systems involved? Just International Science is a five-module learning experience designed to help researchers across disciplines reflect on their research practices and develop approaches that are ethical, inclusive, and community-centered. The course invites participants to critically examine how research is conducted across cultural, institutional, and geographic boundaries, and to explore practical strategies for building more equitable and responsible collaborations. This curriculum responds to the long-standing challenge of helicopter science—research conducted with little or no meaningful engagement with local collaborators or communities, often resulting in extractive outcomes and unequal recognition of knowledge. Through a series of workshops, discussions, and collaborative learning activities, the Just International Science initiative evolved into this open-access course aimed at supporting researchers in transforming their practices. Across five modules, participants will explore both the historical roots and contemporary consequences of inequitable research practices while gaining practical tools to avoid them. The course combines asynchronous materials and interactive activities, including lectures, case studies, reflective exercises, and group discussions designed to connect ethical reflection with real-world research decisions. Each module introduces key frameworks that support ethical and collaborative research, including intersectionality, field safety, Two-Eyed Seeing, and community-engaged research approaches. Participants will also explore tools for building equitable partnerships, incorporating local sciences, and navigating ethical and legal requirements such as research permits and institutional oversight. Throughout the course, participants will engage with the following topics: Understanding Helicopter Science Robust and Inclusive Science Identity, Positionality, and Safety in Fieldwork Ethical Considerations and Permit Requirements Building Meaningful Local Collaborations By bringing together perspectives from biological sciences, environmental humanities, and decolonial scholarship, this course encourages researchers to rethink conventional research practices and create space for more inclusive and reciprocal knowledge production. By the end of the program, participants will gain practical skills to design and conduct research that is not only scientifically rigorous, but also equitable, respectful, and grounded in meaningful collaboration. Download the zip package and click in the ´index´ file to navigate all the content, including streaming ones. https: //www. youtube. com/playlist? list=PLtW-ZHbWl-JFHOIuhp955TzY7EZ2mJCZR&jct=bbqIRGqnm6KO3cpsGK4Yw
Garnica‐Díaz et al. (Fri,) studied this question.