ANU Bandalang Studio

Gamilaraay-Yuwaalyaay man Peter Swanton, Indigenous Research Associate at ANU- an astronomer and astrophysicist whose areas of focus are Indigenous astronomy and dark skies preservation. Pete’s project at Bandalang studio is creating a documentary that explores dark skies preservation from a cultural, Indigenous storytelling and critical standpoint.

In our yarn we cover a lot of ground, and sky, from space junk to light pollution on earth, to the ever- changing Sky Country and how this is mirrored and traced through time in Indigenous cultural knowledge and stories.

Pete has a transdisciplinary approach to his work, and often collaborates with artists, musicians and practitioners from all disciplines, to share and make new knowledge. There’s a call to action in his work about dark skies preservation- the documentary he’s making is a part of that call, but we also want to ask you directly today- are there lights around you that you could turn off, or turn down? Can you write to your local council about overly bright street lights and advocate for dark-sky-friendly lighting policies?

Pete also observes the places where astronomy needs people in health, law, biosciences, arts and ethics, who have interdisciplinary skills to tackle bigger night sky and even space travel challenges. Thanks for listening and hope you enjoy!

Bandalang Studio is an Indigenous Engineering Design Studio at the ANU. Our work supports Indigenous practitioners, researchers and students in projects which challenge the status quo in western engineering and technology. This podcast shares the stories and perspectives of the people who make up the Bandalang Studio community.

Dr Cat Kutay is descended from seafarers of Aboriginal and Celtic origin. Cat is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Science and Technology at Charles Darwin University and works with Aboriginal communities for online language learning, story sharing and data analysis as a way for Aboriginal culture and knowledge to be acknowledged and valued through Australian engineering approaches.

Cat is a Computer and Electrical Engineer. She manages projects developing software for web services for Indigenous Knowledge sharing. In particular, Cat develops online and blended learning resources using narrative techniques, simulations, games and multimedia to provide immersive experiences and practice-based learning.

Cat is one of the authors of Indigenous Engineering for an Enduring Culture- her passion for Indigenous Knowledge Systems in engineering makes for a fascinating insight into an Indigenous engineer’s challenges in a western colonised place. An important resource for the work that we do at Bandalang Studio, and a key text advocating for change in western engineering approaches.

Bandalang Studio is an Indigenous Engineering Design Studio at the ANU. Our work supports Indigenous practitioners, researchers and students in projects which challenge the status quo in western engineering and technology. This podcast shares the stories and perspectives of the people who make up the Bandalang Studio community.

Winston Green is a Pintupi and Ngaatjatjarra early career anthropologist and plumber by trade. Central to Winston’s work is enabling the continuity of precious cultural knowledge sharing, which he believes is fundamental to the well-being of Country and his people.

Bandalang Studio is an Indigenous Engineering Design Studio at the ANU. Our work supports Indigenous practitioners, researchers and students in projects which challenge the status quo in western engineering and technology. This podcast shares the stories and perspectives of the people who make up the Bandalang Studio community.

A Bininj man, Ben lives beside the Jim Jim Creek with his family at Murdudjurl, a remote Indigenous community on his Mother’s Land, Murumburr Country in central Kakadu National Park, which is part of Western Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, Australia.

Ben is the owner and founder of Kakadu Kitchen, which is a 100% Indigenous-owned bush food business established in 2017, that is founded on a vision to celebrate and respectfully share the rich Bininj tradition and culture of bush tucker to help people and planet connect, heal and flourish.

Through this work Ben aims to educate people about the ethical sourcing of Indigenous native botanicals through the concepts of Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP) and Cultural Licensing, and to bring quality, nutrient-rich food to his Kakadu families, and other Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory.

Kakadu Kitchen is guided by the principles of culture, health and nature to help make nutrient-dense Indigenous superfoods more accessible to all people, while empowering remote Indigenous communities with shared collective cultural rights to the supernatural bush ingredients.

There’s a deep generosity in Ben’s problem-solving approach- he’s thinking long term- Kakadu in the year 3000, and how to start doing the work now that might see his Country and people thriving a thousand years from now. Ben’s dream? To practice Bininj philosophy: Healthy Country, Healthy People; Healthy People, Healthy Country, so that Bininj culture lives: endures, thrives, and nourishes.

Bandalang Studio is an Indigenous Engineering Design Studio at the ANU. Our work supports Indigenous practitioners, researchers and students in projects which challenge the status quo in western engineering and technology. This podcast shares the stories and perspectives of the people who make up the Bandalang Studio community.

Dr Elizabeth Marrkilyi Ellis is a senior Ngaanyatjarra lore woman, artist, writer, educator, researcher and linguist from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands of the Gibson desert in WA.

Elizabeth has committed her life to supporting and facilitating communication between her Ngaanyatjarra people, who were the last uncontacted Indigenous tribe by Western culture in Australia, and the non-Indigenous people in our Australian community.

In her work, Elizabeth navigates extreme cultural divides and differences, and in doing so brings people together from vastly different world views to a place of understanding.

This work has been recognised by the Australian National University in the form of an honorary doctorate, which Elizabeth received in 2019 after 3 years of research and consultancy investigating Western Desert speech styles and verbal art. Elizabeth was awarded Australian Research Council grant called Discovery Indigenous Fellowship for this work.

Bandalang Studio is an Indigenous Engineering Design Studio at the ANU. Our work supports Indigenous practitioners, researchers and students in projects which challenge the status quo in western engineering and technology. This podcast shares the stories and perspectives of the people who make up the Bandalang Studio community.

kate harriden is a Wiradjuri water person and scientist. Her work is country-centred, and focussed on decolonising current western water management approaches, particularly in terms of streams. She completed her PhD in Indigenous water sciences at the Fenner School of Environment & Sustainability at the Australian National University (ANU).

Bandalang Studio is an Indigenous Engineering Design Studio at the ANU. Our work supports Indigenous practitioners, researchers and students in projects which challenge the status quo in western engineering and technology. This podcast shares the stories and perspectives of the people who make up the Bandalang Studio community.