Avita Taricuarima

My path began in Santo Tomás, in the Peruvian Amazon, where I grew up among rivers, medicinal plants, animals, and the wisdom of my Kukama elders—my father, my grandparents, and the knowledge keepers who taught me to see the forest as a living being and to care for our territory.

Over time, I witnessed profound changes: rivers polluted by plastics, sick fish, and the loss of ancestral knowledge. These experiences led me to study Biology to protect the place and the culture that formed me. A crucial part of my scientific development was coauthoring the article “Zoonotic Parasite in Hoplosternum littorale,” where we analyzed a zoonotic parasite found in fish commonly consumed in Iquitos. That work began with a simple moment of curiosity: while drinking a beloved regional soup made with native fish, I noticed a tiny creature moving in my bowl and wondered if it could be a zoonotic parasite. I took a photo, sent it to my professor, and soon I was in the laboratory—carrying my bowl of soup—ready to dive into the science.

Our findings revealed the urgent need to link science, public health, and conservation. More importantly, the research had a direct impact on my community: instead of discouraging the consumption of a culturally important fish, I recommended cooking it at higher temperatures to eliminate parasites. In this way, families could continue enjoying their traditional dish while protecting collective health.

Today, I study the biodegradation of plastics by Amazonian bacteria and work to preserve ancestral knowledge, especially medicinal plants. What I value most is teaching my Kukama people what I learn, integrating modern science with traditional wisdom. 

My deepest dream is to become an example so that more Indigenous youth feel encouraged to believe that their professional goals are possible without abandoning their roots, culture, or identity. I aspire to show that an Indigenous young person can advance in science, contribute to global knowledge, and still honor the heritage of their ancestors.

I want young people from my Kukama community and other Amazonian communities to recognize that we have a fundamental role in solving the environmental problems affecting our region. We know the rivers, forests, medicinal plants, and the life that surrounds us because we grew up in it. This ancestral knowledge is a powerful force that, combined with modern science, can create more integral, sustainable, and culturally respectful solutions.

My dream is to continue preparing myself to unite these two worlds: the traditional knowledge of my grandparents and parents, and the scientific knowledge I learn at the university. I want Indigenous youth to work together from both perspectives to address pollution, conserve biodiversity, protect public health, and strengthen the relationship between our communities and the natural environment.