Coming together this weekend to celebrate Indigenous and Western science, Redfern Community Centre and Macquarie University’s National Indigenous Science Education Program (NISEP) will co-host a four day science spectacular as part of this year’s National Science Week.
The Indigenous Science Experience at Redfern will bring together university academics and students, science outreach organisations, and Aboriginal Elders, community members and young people from all across Australia to bring their wealth of knowledge to the public in a fun, hands-on way.
“This event welcomes the Aboriginal Community to engage and strengthen the values of traditional cultural practices whilst broadening their connection to a wider audience through education” says Kristina Karasulas, Centre Manager and Cultural Development Officer at Redfern Community Centre.
Students from local primary schools will attend the first three days of the event which includes an Interactive Science Show led by Indigenous students from regional NSW high schools, a Science Expo area where they can try traditional bush medicine teas from Arnhem Land, be puzzled by maths, learn about native animals and much more, and put customary knowledge into practise gathering and utilising resources for food, tool and weapon making.
The program culminates in a Family Science Festival, a free all-ages event open to the general public. Local icons Uncle Charles “Chikka” Madden and Uncle Max Eulo will conduct a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony to open the day, which will also feature a special guest performance from Indigenous singer songwriter Leah Flanagan. A huge range of activities will be on offer from across many fields of science, including chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environment, engineering, astronomy and mathematics.
Erin Rozgonyi from NISEP says “We want to put science in to a cultural context; to show the importance and relevance of science in the everyday lives of Australians from both modern and traditional perspectives. There is a lot that Western science can learn from listening to the knowledge that has been gained and passed down by the oldest living culture on earth, and this event is really about bringing people together to share their knowledge and, most importantly, their love of science!”
For more information about the Indigenous Science Experience at Redfern, head to whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au or facebook.com/NISEP.MQ.
The Family Science Festival will be held on Saturday, August 23rd from 10:30-2:30 at the Redfern Community Centre, 29-53 Hugo Street, Redfern.
For media inquiries or images, contact Erin Rozgonyi phone 0433 250 393 or email erin.rozgonyi@mq.edu.au
The Indigenous Science Experience is funded by the Federal Government’s Inspiring Australia to promote science and science literacy in Australia.
The Indigenous Science Experience at Redfern will bring together university academics and students, science outreach organisations, and Aboriginal Elders, community members and young people from all across Australia to bring their wealth of knowledge to the public in a fun, hands-on way.
“This event welcomes the Aboriginal Community to engage and strengthen the values of traditional cultural practices whilst broadening their connection to a wider audience through education” says Kristina Karasulas, Centre Manager and Cultural Development Officer at Redfern Community Centre.
Students from local primary schools will attend the first three days of the event which includes an Interactive Science Show led by Indigenous students from regional NSW high schools, a Science Expo area where they can try traditional bush medicine teas from Arnhem Land, be puzzled by maths, learn about native animals and much more, and put customary knowledge into practise gathering and utilising resources for food, tool and weapon making.
The program culminates in a Family Science Festival, a free all-ages event open to the general public. Local icons Uncle Charles “Chikka” Madden and Uncle Max Eulo will conduct a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony to open the day, which will also feature a special guest performance from Indigenous singer songwriter Leah Flanagan. A huge range of activities will be on offer from across many fields of science, including chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environment, engineering, astronomy and mathematics.
Erin Rozgonyi from NISEP says “We want to put science in to a cultural context; to show the importance and relevance of science in the everyday lives of Australians from both modern and traditional perspectives. There is a lot that Western science can learn from listening to the knowledge that has been gained and passed down by the oldest living culture on earth, and this event is really about bringing people together to share their knowledge and, most importantly, their love of science!”
For more information about the Indigenous Science Experience at Redfern, head to whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au or facebook.com/NISEP.MQ.
The Family Science Festival will be held on Saturday, August 23rd from 10:30-2:30 at the Redfern Community Centre, 29-53 Hugo Street, Redfern.
For media inquiries or images, contact Erin Rozgonyi phone 0433 250 393 or email erin.rozgonyi@mq.edu.au
The Indigenous Science Experience is funded by the Federal Government’s Inspiring Australia to promote science and science literacy in Australia.
