The First Astronomers: How Indigenous Elders read the stars
Abstract: Our eyes have been drawn away from the heavens to our screens. We no longer look to the sky to forecast the weather, predict the seasons or plant our gardens. Most of us cannot even see the Milky Way. But First Nations Elders of the world still maintain this knowledge, and there is much we can learn from them. These Elders are expert observers of the stars. They teach that everything on the land is reflected in the sky, and everything in the sky is reflected on the land. How does this work, and how can we better understand our place in the universe? University of Melbourne astronomer Duane Hamacher will discuss the scientific knowledge developed by First Nations peoples, and how these living systems of knowledge challenge conventional ideas about the nature of science and the longevity of oral tradition. The First Astronomers shows us how respectful collaborations can drive exciting and innovative solutions to global challenges that impact us all.
Website: www.thefirstastronomers.com
Speaker: Duane Hamacher is Associate Professor of Cultural Astronomy in the ASTRO-3D Centre of Excellence and the School of Physics at the University of Melbourne in Australia, and a CAPAS Fellow at the Käte Hamburger Centre for Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic Studies at Heidelberg University in Germany.