Indigenous astronomy: history, challenges and what we have learned.

Speaker: Duane Hamacher, Associate Professor of Cultural Astronomy in the School of Physics and Director of the Cultural & Indigenous Astronomy Program at the University of Melbourne.

This presentation was delivered at the first HAAC seminar, 19 November 2025.

Link to the 16 minute YouTube recording: https://youtu.be/MrI0M9matwE

Abstract: Over the last 20 years, research and collaboration in Indigenous Astronomy has evolved significantly. The protocols and processes have changed and we have learned a great deal about how to better engage with research scholarship, outcomes, and outputs, though there is still much to learn. From previous lessons, we can start to develop a new framework to research and engagement that better adheres to de-colonial practices, changing misconceptions, benefiting community outcomes, and addressing many of the challenging issues we face today. There is not always an easy answer, but we must continue to grapple with the dynamic variables that alter what we do, why we do it and who this work benefits. In this talk, I will take a deep dive into discussing these issues with a focus on addressing the misconceptions and misinformation about researching and teaching Indigenous ways of knowing in universities and the public sphere, challenging the pervasive but flawed "science vs myth" narrative.

Bio: Duane Hamacher is Associate Professor of Cultural Astronomy in the School of Physics and Director of the Cultural & Indigenous Astronomy Program at the University of Melbourne. He studies humanity's connection to the stars in terms of culture, history, science and society, from ancient pasts to space futures.