Testimonies Are a Form of Data (with Dr. Jessica Hernandez)
From Critical Literary Consumption by Anna Nguyen
April 14, 2026 · 42 min
About this episode
Dr. Jessica Hernandez discusses her books and the intersection of Indigenous and Western science in relation to climate displacement and migration.
In discussing her books, Fresh Banana Leaves and Growing Papaya Plants , Indigenous scientist Dr. Jessica Hernandez talks about turning her attention from a non-native but displaced relative (banana trees) to a native plant relative (papaya trees) to discuss climate displacement and migration. She also shares her thoughts on the binary of Western science and Indigenous science, writing scientifically and what counts as empirical data, defining the work of an Indigenous scientist, the purpose of a positionality statement, and her general experiences in academia.
People in this episode
Host: Anna Nguyen
Guest: Dr. Jessica Hernandez
Topics covered
- Indigenous science
- climate displacement
- migration
- Western science
- empirical data
- positionality statement
- experiences in academia
Keywords
- Indigenous scientist
- banana trees
- papaya trees
- climate change
- academic experiences
- scientific writing
- data
- positionality
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Fresh Banana Leaves, Growing Papaya Plants
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