In her work, Kingsolver discusses how colonialism has affected the pursuit of scientific knowledge, revealing the destructive tendencies of colonization. She highlights the ways in which colonial powers exploited both people and natural resources, undermining indigenous knowledge systems and practices. This ransacking resulted in a flattening of diverse perspectives in the scientific community, leading to a skewed understanding of the world.

Furthermore, Kingsolver points to the ongoing impacts of this historical injustice, emphasizing that many scientific advancements are built on the foundations of exploitation. This legacy complicates contemporary scientific endeavors and underscores the need for a more equitable approach that values and incorporates the contributions of multiple cultures and communities in the scientific dialogue.