Indigenous Science Experience

The event will consist of the following online sessions, please see below for full session descriptions:

Harnessing Knowledge of the Land and the Sea – Yaegl Community (Aunty Glenda MacPhail and Uncle Ron Heron), Sarah and James Thomas (South Coast Seaweed), Dr Pia Winberg and Professor Peter Ralph. Monday, August 16, 2021, 7.00-8.00 pm. Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/harnessing-the-knowledge-of-the-land-and-sea 

Indigenous History and Artefacts – Paul Craft-Burragun, Burragun Aboriginal Cultural Services. Tuesday, August 17, 2021, 7.00-8.00 pm. Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/indigenous-history-and-artefacts

Exploring the Fascinating Lives of White-bellied Sea-Eagles through EagleCAM – Judy Harrington, BirdLife Southern NSW. Wednesday, August 18, 2021, 12.00 pm – 1.00 pm. Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/exploring-the-fascinating-lives-of-white-bellied-sea-eagles-through-eaglecam

Stories and Structures – from Micrographs to Art – Dr Jenny Whiting and Gamilaraay artist Arkeria Rose Armstrong. Wednesday, August 18, 2021, 7.00-8.00 pm. Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/stories-and-structures-from-micrographs-to-art

Global Indigenous Engineering – David Harrington, Stone and Bones. Thursday, August 19, 2021, 7.00-8.00 pm. Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/global-indigenous-engineering

Indigenous Astronomy in Australia – Uncle James Ingram, Robert Fuller and Trevor Leaman. Friday, August 20, 2021, 7.00-8.30 pm. Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/indigenous-astronomy-in-australia

Tools from Nature Workshops – David Harrington, Stone and Bones. Saturday, August 21, 2021.
Workshop 1 – 10.00 am – 11.00 am. Registration Link: https://events.humanitix.com/tools-from-nature-workshop-one
Workshop 2 – 11.30 am – 12.30 pm. Registration Link: https://events.humanitix.com/tools-from-nature-workshop-two
Workshop 3 – 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm. Registration Link: https://events.humanitix.com/tools-from-nature-workshop-three

Harnessing Knowledge of the Land and the Sea
Monday, August 16, 2021 – 7.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Register Here: https://events.humanitix.com/harnessing-the-knowledge-of-the-land-and-sea

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia have built an intimate understanding of both the land and the sea and their resources over more than 60,000 years. This session will explore the use of bush medicines and foods by the Yaegl community of northern NSW, before moving on to talking about a less well known but multi-functional resource – seaweed. The discussion will explore how individuals and communities are working to collect and revitalise traditional knowledge on natural resources and extend on this knowledge in innovative ways leading to positive impacts on our food industry and the environment.

Presenters: This session is brought to you by representatives of the Yaegl Community (northern NSW) including Aunty Glenda MacPhail and Uncle Ron Heron, as well as Sarah Thomas and James Thomas, co-founders of South Coast Seaweed (https://southcoastseaweed.com.au), Dr Pia Winberg, CEO & Chief Scientist of Venus Shell Systems Pty. Ltd., CEO PhycoHealth Pty. Ltd. and Honorary Fellow, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong and Professor Peter Ralph, founder of the NSW Deep Green Algae Biotech Hub and Head of R&D programs in algae biotechnology and seagrass health at the University of Technology Sydney.

Indigenous History and Artefacts 
Tuesday, August 17, 2021 – 7.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Registration Link: https://events.humanitix.com/indigenous-history-and-artefacts

Presented by Paul Craft-Burragun (Uncle Boomerang) from Burragun Aboriginal Cultural Services (www.burragun.com.au), this session will explore the use of tools/utensils/weapons and practices by the Aboriginal peoples of Australia both pre- and post-colonialism. A number of artefacts will be shown to the participants and Paul will discuss how these were made and from what types of materials in different areas. He will also discuss Aboriginal traditional knowledge which can help with the current day management of resources and the environment.

Presenter: Paul Craft-Burragun (Uncle Boomerang) is a Jagera-Turrbul man Bundjalung-Yugambeh descendant from the areas of South East Queensland and North East NSW. Paul is passionate about sharing his traditional cultural knowledge and skills with all students in the education system and helping to create an understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal culture in Australia. He has been conducting school visits since 2001. He plays an active part in his local communities and was the founder of the first ever all Aboriginal boomerang team named ‘Deadly Returns’. Paul represented Australia at the World Boomerang Cup in Perth in 2014 as part of the Australian Team of 6 individuals. Through his company ‘Burragan Aboriginal Cultural Services’ (www.burragun.com.au), Paul provides a wide range of cultural education services including incursions, excursions, camps, site tours and scrub walks that are suitable for all ages.

Exploring the Fascinating Lives of White-bellied Sea-Eagles through EagleCAM
Wednesday, August 18, 2021 – 12.00 pm – 1.00 pm
Register Here: https://events.humanitix.com/exploring-the-fascinating-lives-of-white-bellied-sea-eagles-through-eaglecam

In this session, Judy Harrington of BirdLife Southern NSW will describe EagleCAM – a project that allows us to observe the fascinating world of White-bellied Sea-Eagles. Established in 2009, EagleCAM is a live, remote feed that operates out of the BirdLife Discovery Centre in the Newington Armory at Sydney Olympic Park, close to the Parramatta River. EagleCAM gives bird lovers, researchers and scientists 24-hour access to the lives of the Centre’s resident pair of White-bellied Sea-Eagles on the nest and allows for the investigation of their habitat, behaviour and how we can help them survive long term. EagleCAM was started and funded by a small group of BirdLife Australia volunteers, who continue to develop and operate the technology that brings the Sea-Eagles to your screen.

EagleCAM can be viewed here: https://www.sea-eaglecam.org/video.html

Presenter: Judy Harrington, Chair of BirdLife Southern NSW and co-founder of the BirdLife Discovery Centre at Sydney Olympic Park. Judy is an avid bird lover and is passionate about inspiring and educating others about birds and the environment. She believes you are never too old, or too young, to learn. For more than 20 years Judy has been a familiar face around Sydney Olympic Park, protecting the Park’s environment and wildlife, and sharing her extensive knowledge with visitors, young and old in her role as an Environmental Ranger.

Stories and Structures – from Micrographs to Art 
Wednesday, August 18, 2021 – 7.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Registration Link: https://events.humanitix.com/stories-and-structures-from-micrographs-to-art

Observation of images of creatures and natural materials taken with transmission electron microscopes reveal structures and patterns reminiscent of symbols and representations used in traditional and contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. This visual similarity formed the basis of Stories and Structures – New Connections, an art project established by Microscopy Australia.

This unique art project based on Indigenous art works inspired by images from electron microscopes seeks to engage the wider community with science and microscopy through wonderful imagery and to encourage reconciliation by demonstrating the intimate connection between Country and Culture. In this online session, Dr Jenny Whiting, Curator of Stories and Structures will describe the background of the project and give details on the micrograph collection. She will then converse with some of the artists who contributed to the project, including Gamilaraay artist Arkeria Rose Armstrong (https://storiesandstructures.micro.org.au/index.php/arkeria-rose-armstrong/) and Yaegl artist Frances Belle Parker (https://storiesandstructures.micro.org.au/index.php/frances-belle-parker/). The artists will reflect on why they chose particular micrographs as inspiration and the stories behind their work.

Presenters: Dr Jenny Whiting, Curator of Stories and Structures and Marketing and Business Development Manager, Microscopy Australia, Gamilaraay artist Arkeria Rose Armstrong and Yaegl artist Frances Belle Parker.

Global Indigenous Engineering
Thursday, August 19, 2021 – 7.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Registration Link: https://events.humanitix.com/global-indigenous-engineering

Engineering is not a modern concept – for thousands of years peoples from around the world have been using engineering solutions to solve social, technical and economic challenges. This session explores examples of how Australian and other First Nations peoples have used engineering principles in their day to day lives that show incredible sophistication and flexibility and demonstrate a holistic approach to living in the world. Examples that will be discussed include the productive Budj Bim landscape of Victoria, living tree bridges in India, the surprising use of stone across Australasia and the use of grain in a diverse and variable environment.

Presenter: David Harrington is an academic, educator, maker, bushcraft practitioner and scientist with 20 years’ experience working with Aboriginal communities. Dave has worked closely within Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley and Northern NSW, collaborating on projects recording cultural information, investigating bush medicines and foods and developing cooperative education and cultural programs with local high schools. Dave provides a range of educational activities, consultation and teacher professional development, which focus on Indigenous sciences from Australia and around the world, through his company Stone and Bones (www.stoneandbones.com).

Indigenous Astronomy in Australia 
Friday, August 20, 2021 – 7.00 pm – 8.30 pm
Registration Link: https://events.humanitix.com/indigenous-astronomy-in-australia

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia have a long history of using astronomy stretching back for over 60,000 years. Astronomical observations made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, such as the movements of the Sun, Moon and stars are used in navigation, to predict weather and in conjunction with seasonal calendars. These observations are intimately linked with traditional stories that have been passed down the generations over tens of thousands of years orally and through song and dance. This session will explore a range of knowledge and stories of the sky held by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and explore the links between the sky and the land.

Presenters: 
Uncle James Ingram
Uncle James Ingram is a much-loved Wiradjuri Elder from the Narunga Narinjera clan of the central Riverina. Born and raised in Leeton NSW, Uncle James combines his knowledge of Country and culture with his life-long association with agriculture to unite communities through our shared love of the land. He has been a champion in the cause for restoring Indigenous place names and the recognition of sites of significance. Uncle James also works with school and community groups sharing the knowledge passed down to him from the old people.

Robert Fuller
Bob is an Adjunct Fellow at Western Sydney University after completing his PhD at the University of New South Wales in 2020. His research on the cultural astronomy and songlines of the saltwater Aboriginal peoples of the New South Wales coast has led to a post-doc project to investigate the connections between the Black Duck Songline of the South Coast and the Wawilak Sisters of Arnhem Land and Central/Western Australia. Bob plays an active role in informing the non-Indigenous community on Australian Indigenous astronomy through lectures, articles, radio and TV and was the instigator of the successful documentary on Euahlayi astronomy, “Star Stories of the Dreaming”.

Trevor Leaman 
Trevor is based at the University of New South Wales where he is researching the astronomical traditions of the Wiradjuri people of central NSW. His passion for cultural astronomy and space science was ignited from a young age – he vividly remembers a visit to Stonehenge in 1972 as a child before his family emigrated to Australia as well as the live broadcasts of the Apollo launches on the BBC a couple of years earlier. In his spare time, he runs his own Astronomy Education & Tour Guiding business, Dark Skies Downunder, based in Orange, Central West NSW, showcasing the Cultural night sky for schools, community groups and private functions.

Tools from Nature Workshops – David Harrington, Stone and Bones. Saturday, August 21, 2021.
Workshop 1 – 10.00 am – 11.00 am. Registration Link: https://events.humanitix.com/tools-from-nature-workshop-one
Workshop 2 – 11.30 am – 12.30 pm. Registration Link: https://events.humanitix.com/tools-from-nature-workshop-two
Workshop 3 – 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm. Registration Link: https://events.humanitix.com/tools-from-nature-workshop-three

These workshops are suitable for children aged 8 to 14 years of age and require adult supervision. They are not appropriate for other age groups so please do not register your child unless they are in the right age bracket.

For thousands of years peoples from around the world have been using what they can find around them in nature to make useful tools and materials. In these workshops participants will learn how to make their own stone axe from materials found in nature. Presenter David Harrington will also run through other examples of the use of natural materials, such as the use of bees wax for binding. Before the workshops, you will be sent a short pre-recording showing how you can find the materials needed for the workshops in the outside environment.

Presenter: David Harrington is an academic, educator, maker, bushcraft practitioner and scientist with 20 years’ experience working with Aboriginal communities. Dave has worked closely within Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley and Northern NSW, collaborating on projects recording cultural information, investigating bush medicines and foods and developing cooperative education and cultural programs with local high schools. Dave provides a range of educational activities, consultation and teacher professional development, which focus on Indigenous sciences from Australia and around the world, through his company Stone and Bones (www.stoneandbones.com).

Weaving Workshops
Sunday, August 22, 2021
10.00 am – 12.00 noon – Registration Link: Sorry – workshop full
OR 1.00 pm – 3.00 pm – Registration Link: Sorry – workshop full

These workshops will be led by Wiradjuri woman, Renee Cawthorne, who has extensive experience in delivering engaging cultural experiences for diverse audiences.

During these hands-on workshops you will learn about the different weaving techniques used by Australia’s First Nations Peoples and how to make your own basket. Materials for you to take part in the weaving workshop will be sent to you after registration; we will ask for your address as part of the registration process. MATERIALS WILL ONLY BE SENT TO LOCATIONS WITHIN AUSTRALIA.

These workshops are FREE but tickets are limited – RSVPs are essential. This is a live interactive event ONLY; it will not be distributed as a recording. Please only register if you can definitely attend so that other people don’t miss out on this opportunity.

This workshop will be delivered via Zoom Meetings, which will allow the presenters to see and interact with you. Please note that in registering for this workshop you understand and acknowledge that during the session, the participant(s) will be visible and audible to presenters/moderators and other participants. You will have the option to turn off your audio and video.