Events

Please join the Indigenous Knowledge Institute to celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on August 9 and 10.

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples marks the day of the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.

To recognise this day, the Indigenous Knowledge Institute is hosting a two-day symposium to showcase and celebrate a variety of Indigenous knowledges from across the University of Melbourne and the community. We will discuss ways to draw Indigenous knowledges into different areas including policy, health, justice, and education.

The event will be delivered both in-person and livestreamed and will be Auslan interpreted.

Schedule

Information about the schedule and speakers will be added as it is confirmed. All times below are in Australian Eastern Standard Time.

DAY ONE: Wednesday 9 August – convert to your timezone 

• 10:30 AM – 3.00PM
• Introduction & Welcome to Country 
• Keynote address: Hannah Robertson (UoM) and Olkola partners, Uncle Mike Ross (Olkola elder and Chairman of the Olkola Aboriginal Corporation) and Deb Symonds (Olkola woman and CEO) sharing their perspectives of our Indigenous led collaborations in partnership with the University of Melbourne 
• Additional speakers on topics including Indigenous languages, PhD projects, rock art, and agriculture and farming practices

DAY TWO: Thursday 10 August – convert to your timezone 

• 10:30 AM – 3.00PM
• Introduction
• Keynote address: Presentation by Noelani Puniwai (University of Hawaii) sharing her research interests and experiences in culture, coastal ecosystems, science and youth action  
• Additional speakers on topics including: climate and language, curriculum, health, medicine, fire and environment  

Covid-19: Please do not attend this event if you are unwell, even with very mild symptoms. Let the organiser know immediately if you become unwell during the event. 

Some say climate change isn’t happening or isn’t driven by human activities. Some worry that vaccines cause autism or are a lethal conspiracy. Only two-thirds of Americans aged 18-24 believe the Earth is round.

Have you faced difficult conversations on these topics with family or friends? How concerned should we be about the unscientific opinions of social media influencers? If distrust in scientists, governments, and mainstream media is growing, what should we do?

Join the conversation with researchers, and experts in psychology and science communication at this Science Festival event.

Event Presenters:

• Professor Moira O’Bryan (Host) - Dean, Faculty of Science
• Graham Phillips (Moderator) - Lecturer Science Communications, Faculty of Science
• Professor Margie Danchin (Panelist) - Director Of Clinician-Scientist Pathways, Melbourne Medical School
• Professor Fiona Fidler (Panelist) - Professor Historical and Philosophical Studies, Faculty of Arts
• Dr Jennifer Beckett (Panelist) - Lecturer Media/Marketing Comms, Culture and Communication, Faculty of Arts
• Dr Andrew King (Panelist) - Lecturer In Climate Science, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences