SCI2030 · Indigenous science: Science through the eyes of Australia’s first peoples

Overview

This unit introduces you to the presence of science in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practices and shows you the amazing traditions and technology that Australia’s first people developed over millennia. You will develop a deeper appreciation of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges and the fact that science itself is a culture. Cultural competency is now seen as a key employability skill. This unit will instil in you an understanding of how traditions (and the science that is part of them) can easily be lost when a culture or opinion is allowed to dominate at the cost of others. As such you will leave the unit with a deeper appreciation of different traditions and knowledges and better prepared to take on knew knowledge, and appreciate different views and approaches towards science. There is also a strong focus on developing your communications skills, another key employability skill. The uptake and understanding of science concepts will be assessed by how well you can articulate their ideas in a wide range of assessments.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Identify science found within traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practices;
2. Communicate science found within traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practices;
3. Reflect on their intercultural competence and how that can impact how people value other people’s knowledge and traditions;
4. Identify and communicate key events post-colonisation which have impacted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’s ability to use their traditional practices for the good of their communities, and to recognise the importance of these changes
5. Design a culturally appropriate science communication piece in lines with a need in an Indigenous community or, to communicate Indigenous science to a non-indigenous audience.

Workload

A total of 144 hours of work consisting of: • Twelve 2-hour workshop and a field trip • The remaining workload comprises preparation for class, post-class study and preparation of assessments.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.