Atitia Center

The Gump Station’s “Atitia Center” is located on the southern half of the UCB property. Atitia is the name of the land in Tahitian and the Center is devoted to community outreach and educational activities. The Atitia Center is still in an early phase of development but has already attracted great interest. It consists of an ethnobotanic garden, fare pote’e (traditional Tahitian meeting house), and the waterfront of a marine reserve.

It is often difficult for scientists to communicate their knowledge to local people, and even more so when there are linguistic and cultural hurdles to overcome. To address this challenge, UCB formed the Atitia Center in partnership between the Gump Station and a Tahitian non-profit “association” called Te Pu 'Atiti'a. The Association Te Pu 'Atiti'a is largely made up of local educators (including many school teachers) and traditional experts.

Through the Atitia Center, the Gump Station and Te Pu 'Atiti'a pursue common educational and research programs focused on marine and terrestrial biodiversity, traditional knowledge, culture, and the relationship between human societies and natural ecosystems.

The Atitia Center thus provides an excellent opportunity for interaction and exchange, enabling students and researchers to learn from the local community, and for them to contribute scientific knowledge in return. The common goal: to promote and preserve Polynesia’s biocultural heritage.