Dr. Melanie Cheung^NZ

Dr Melanie Cheung is a Maori neurobiologist that has worked in academia; the health sector; and in Indigenous communities in Aotearoa, Canada and USA. Her research seeks to understand the ways that neuroplasticity can be harnessed to develop neurological treatments and optimize performance. The strength of her research has been in combining innovative multidisciplinary science (brain training, neurodegenerative disease, MRI, neuropsychology, biomarkers); clinical practice (psychiatry, community-based care, Maori healing); and decolonizing methodologies (research ethics and practices centred on Māori concepts with intensive Māori community engagement). For this work she was awarded Women of the Year (Health and Science); Huntington's Disease Society of America's Distinguished Leadership award for exemplary dedication, leadership in international research; Fulbright New Zealand Scholar Award.

She applies similar decolonizing scientific methodologies to her work for the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, rematriating New Zealand Chinook salmon back to Northern California and to her work with Abundant Intelligences, a collective of Indigenous researchers that are combining Indigenous knowledge and practices with AI and machine learning to support Indigenous communities to flourish. Underlying all her research is a profound belief that matauranga (traditional knowledge) and tikanga (ceremony) have a significant contribution to make to our changing world, and ultimately shape her research practices.