Roger Malapa, the first ni-Vanuatu to graduate with a PhD in science, has died in New Caledonia. He was 46.
Born on the island of Malekula, Dr Malapa graduated with a PhD in genetics from a French university in 2005, before returning to Vanuatu where he became one of the Pacific's most prolific plant breeders.
Vincent Lebot, a scientist with the Ministry of Agriculture and close friend of Dr Malapa's, says his work created hundreds of varieties of staple crops that are more resistant to events like climate change.
Dr Lebot told Jamie Tahana that Dr Malapa's death is a significant loss for Vanuatu, but his life's work has inspired many more ni-Vanuatu to pursue a life of science.
Dr Roger Malapa
Photo: Supplied/ Dr Vincent Lebot
Transcript
VINCENT LEBOT: It was a huge cultural shock for him to leave New Caledonia where he got his masters to go to Europe - cold Europe - and spend four years there doing his research, mostly on yam genetics. In 2005 he defended his PhD and came back to Vanuatu and was at that time the first Vanuatu PhD scientist. He was someone truly exceptional. He decided to work for the national research institution and started a career as a yam breeder generating new hybrids and improved varieties through conventional techniques, but also working on other root crops which are staple foods throughout Melanesia and the Pacific. He was well known throughout the region for his very warm character, his sense of humour, but most of all because of his professional expertise.
JAMIE TAHANA: What did he contribute to science in Vanuatu and crop research. What's his legacy there?
VL: What Roger has left behind him is basically hundreds of new hybrids that were created and distributed throughout the islands of Vanuatu to the farmers, and these hybrids are now going to contribute to the adaptation to climatic changes because, what Roger was doing, he was introducing new blots from distant countries and recombining these genes with the local land raises to produce a hybrid figure. So he's leaving behind him scientific publications, he's leaving behind him germplasm, but what he's leaving behind him - the most important - is the image that demonstrates and proves that although you can originate from the small island of Malekula, in a very small country like Vanuatu you can reach the highest degree in science and there is no reason why you would be limited by your origin. This is, I think, an outstanding example for the future generations. It's feasible. It's possible, and Roger has shown that.
JT: Has he inspired others to pursue the field of science?
VL: He was spending a lot of time doing that. He was trying to convince the local generations to get involved in science because science is kind of obscure and not very attractive to the younger generations. I think Roger succeeded to convince the younger generations that they should not be afraid of science. It's tough, it's hard, it's difficult, but it's very very rewarding.
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