Caring for Sky Country, the pipi shuffle, 65,000 years managing water and more

10 August, 2022
Exclude from Home Page, National Science Week

Explore Indigenous Knowledge this National Science Week, 13 to 21 August

Available for interview:

  • Kamilaroi water scientist Bradley Moggridge
  • Ngarrindjeri sustainable fisher Derek Walker on harvesting pipi in Goolwa
  • Caring for Sky Country with Gamilaraay astronomer Karlie Noon in Sydney
  • Gomeroi astrophysicist Krystal de Napoli, talking science through stories in NSW & Tas
  • The Indigenous Science Experience at Redfern

More on each of these below

For media requests, contact National Science Week’s publicity team:

  • Jane Watkins, jane@scienceinpublic.com.au, 0425 803 204
  • Tanya Ha, tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au, 0404 083 863.

Visit ScienceWeek.net.au/events to find stories in your area using the event listing.

Media centre here. Images for media here.

Kamilaroi water scientist Bradley Moggridge has 65,000 years of experience – ACT

“My kids roll their eyes every time I say this, but I’ve been involved with water for about 65,000 years,” Kamilaroi scientist Bradley Moggridge laughs.

He is an expert in hydrogeology, or how water moves through a landscape and how Indigenous people know and value it.

“Thousands of generations of Indigenous observation and testing country and knowing country are science, and science has to evolve to consider Indigenous knowledge.

“I’m merging Indigenous knowledge with western science to better value, understand and manage water.

“Kamilaroi country is towards the top of the Murray-Darling Basin and sits above the Great Artesian Basin, so I have direct connection to surface and ground water and wetlands as well. We’re looking at on-country solutions for those local waterways, informed by Indigenous seasonal calendars purely dependant on the country and what the local people see at the changing of the seasons. It could be a change in the winds. It could be the turning up of a certain species. It could be part of the dreaming stories.”

Bradley is an Associate Professor at the University of Canberra’s Centre for Applied Water Science.  He is taking part in multiple the National Science Week events and is featured in the Science in the Centres activity kits at Canberra’s shopping precincts.

Gomeroi astrophysicist Krystal de Napoli on science stories – NSW and Tas

“Indigenous ways of knowing have hugely influenced the way I communicate science—in particular, story.” says Gomeroi astrophysicist and science communicator Krystal de Napoli.

“People who have a very shallow understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture will think of dreaming stories as mythical.  In actuality, stories are the vessels in which we encode our science knowledge.”

Krystal is the co-author, along with Karlie Noon, of Indigenous astronomy book, Astronomy: Sky Country, recently nominated for The Age Book of the Year. She also hosts the Indigenuity radio show.

“Aboriginal oral culture has been able to store scientific observations for tens of thousands of years. We have stories that described events that occurred on this country 16 to 30,000 plus years ago: volcanic eruptions, sea level rises, and the positions of stars changing.

“Science communication underpins all my work because I’m passionate about everyone learning about science. That’s why I talk about science on the radio and write books. I know, from personal experience, it can be difficult to access it, particularly in rural areas.  Growing up, I didn’t know anything about astronomy.”

She is appearing at Sydney Science Festival and Tasmania’s Beaker Street Festival. Event details: sydneyscience.maas.museum/event/space-imaginaries-symposium and www.scienceweek.net.au/event/beaker-street-festival-2/triabunna

Media enquires: Siân Davies, sian@articulatepr.com.au, 0402 728 462; or Sasha Haughan, sasha@articulatepr.com.au, 0405 006 035.

Caring for Sky Country with Gamilaraay astronomer Karlie Noon – NSW

“Since time immemorial, Indigenous peoples worldwide have observed, tracked and memorised all the visible objects in the night sky,” wrote Gamilaraay astronomer and science communicator Karlie Noon in a recent essay for The Conversation.

She is the co-author of an acclaimed book Astronomy: Sky Country, with Gomeroi astrophysicist and radio host Krystal de Napoli. Together, they’re exploring the connections between Aboriginal environmental and cultural practices and the behaviour of the stars.

“This ancient star knowledge was meticulously ingrained with practical knowledge of the land, sky, waters, community and the Dreaming — and passed down through generations,” Karlie says.

Karlie has an advanced Masters of Astrophysics and is currently undertaking a PhD. She is speaking at Sydney Science Festival.Event details: sydneyscience.maas.museum/event/space-imaginaries-symposium

Media enquires: Siân Davies, sian@articulatepr.com.au, 0402 728 462; or Sasha Haughan, sasha@articulatepr.com.au, 0405 006 035.

Ngarrindjeri sustainable fisher Derek Walker on the pipi shuffle – SA

“Sustainable fishing has been a matter of life and death for our mob for 20,000 years plus. That’s our science. It’s applied science. If we couldn’t maintain a protein source, we weren’t going to survive for too long,’’ says Ngarrindjeri leader Derek Walker.

He is the CEO of Kuti Co, a pipi harvesting company that has been celebrated for using Indigenous knowledge to fish sustainably by the Marine Stewardship Council, a global non-profit on a mission to end overfishing.

“Pipis have been a traditional food source for the Ngarrindjeri, almost forever, and to this day Kuti Co harvest in the same way by shuffling their feet along the beach to knead the pipi out from the sand and using the water movement to push them into a basket.

“Our stories and songs talk about not talking more than you need and leaving enough for others and enough so you can come back later and still get a feed, so today we only harvest within a quota and any small ones we catch are put back where we got them.”

Kuti Co is hosting a National Science Week event in Goolwa on Wednesday 24 August. Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/behind-the-scenes-what-makes-pipis-sustainable/goolwa

Media enquires: Alex Webb, Marine Stewardship Council, alex.webb@msc.org or (02) 9527 6883.

Indigenous youth and elders share the night sky, bush food, and technology – NSW

Kangaroo skin clock with wooden tools

What can Aboriginal astronomy tell us about the night sky? How are native flora used in bush medicine and soap making? How do Indigenous Australians make axes from stone and other artefacts? What can deadly science tell us about seaweed, birdlife, engineering, textiles, and more? What can 60 000+ years of Indigenous culture tell us about sustainable living?

The Indigenous Science Experience at Redfern is a celebration of Indigenous and Western science, and the achivements of Indigenous youth and Elders. This annual event demonstrates the value of traditional and contemporary Indigenous knowledge in science and technology. Indigenous students assist in demonstrating activities.

Event details: www.scienceweek.net.au/event/indigenous-science-experience-at-redfern-2/redfern

Media enquiries: Joanne Jamie, joanne.jamie@mq.edu.au, 0439 170 683 or 02 9850 8283.            

Indigenous student leaders and event organiser Joanne Jamie (non-Indigenous) are available for media interviews. View video from 2019 event.

More first sciences speakers – QLD, NT, SA, Vic, NSW and Tas

Other Indigenous thinkers presenting events include:

About National Science Week

National Science Week is Australia’s annual opportunity to meet scientists, discuss hot topics, do science and celebrate its cultural and economic impact on society—from art to astrophysics, chemistry to climate change, and forensics to future food.

First held in 1997, National Science Week has become one of Australia’s largest festivals. Last year—despite a global pandemic—1.3 million people participated in more than 1,750 events and activities.

National Science Week is proudly supported by the Australian Government, CSIRO, the Australian Science Teachers Association, the ABC, and Cosmos magazine.

National Science Week 2022 will run from Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 August. Event details can be found at www.scienceweek.net.au.