Corporate body

Canadian Medical Expedition to Easter Island

• M.E.T.E.I.

1964-65

The Canadian Medical Expedition to Easter Island (M.E.T.E.I.) under the direction of Stanley C. Skoryna of McGill University was organized to "study the relative role of environment and hereditary factors on an isolated population." The twenty-five person expedition included two U.B.C. participants, Ian Efford (Zoology) and graduate student Jack Mathias. It was sponsored by the World Health Organization, the M.E.T.E.I had three objectives:

1. To conduct multi-disciplinary studies of native populations.
2. Study collection and preservation of biological materials on field conditions.
3. Assist the population with medical problems.
   The expedition operated between October 1964 and February 1965.

The expedition was organized to "study the relative role of environment and hereditary factors on an isolated population."