Koorie Perspectives in STEM CSIRO Indigenous STEM Awards
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Koorie Perspectives in STEM CSIRO Indigenous STEM Awards There’s a huge focus on the moment on Aboriginal Summer School The Indigenous STEM Awards recognise, re- STEM education. A new approach, ward and celebrate the achievements of Abo- STEM is about focusing on specific for Excellence in Technology riginal and Torres Strait Islander students and knowledge across the four learning and Science scientists who are studying and working in areas of Science, Technology, Engineer- the STEM field, as well as the integral role ing and Mathematics; and the inter- The CSIRO runs the Aboriginal Summer schools, teachers and mentors have in sup- relationship between them. Integrating School for Excellence in Technology and porting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Koorie perspectives into these four Science (ASSETS) program which is a nine students in pursuing STEM education and learning areas, supports a range of day summer school for high-achieving Abo- careers. alternative viewpoints and a deeper riginal and Torres Strait Islander Year 10 Learn about the 2017 Indigenous STEM Win- engagement in these four learning students with an interest in science and ners announced on 28 March 2018 at Wiluna areas. technology. ASSETS summer schools are Remote Community School, in WA, winner of run annually in Adelaide, Newcastle and It’s believed that STEM education the School Award. doesn’t attract Aboriginal students, yet Townsville in December and January. Victorian Gunditjmara scientist and immunol- there are at the moment at least two During the summer school, scientists share ogist Dr. Misty Jenkins received the 2017 Aboriginal astronomers, researching their research and discuss study and career STEM Professional Career Achievement and working in Australia at the moment. possibilities while Indigenous mentors and Award. [See VAEAI’s Koorie Seasons and Astral leaders help students strengthen their Calendars]. In Derby WA, the communi- cultural connections. Students will also ty is celebrating Derby’s first Aboriginal complete a group research project and doctor Vinka Barunga —one of 6 gradu- present their findings at the closing cere- ates. mony. National Science The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander After the summer school, the ASSETS lead- Cross-Curriculum Priority was included ership program supports students through in the original development of the Aus- Year 11 and 12. The program assists stu- Week tralian Curriculum—Maths and Science dents to develop leadership skills and ac- learning areas, however over time these cess work experience, mentoring and ter- were excluded. This is lamentable as it tiary education opportunities. 11-19 August denied the opportunity to explore pre- All aspects of the ASSETS program are free dominantly western systems of maths, for students. While applications have technology, engineering and scientific closed for 2018, current year 9 students understanding through an Aboriginal may be interested for the forthcoming world view. year. While there are no direct STEM content descriptors explicitly pertaining to Aboriginal histories and cul- tures, there are plenty of oppor- tunities within, to take an Abo- riginal viewpoint, to incorporate a cultural approach and ap- proach STEM learning from a Koorie cultural perspective. Tak- ing a different viewpoint, incor- porating a cultural approach and encouraging students to explore alternatives might well be the key to greater relevance, en- gagement and participation. This STEM edition of Koorie Per- spectives in Curriculum offers some suggestions for STEM integration. “You decide the kind of Awarded Gunditjmara scientist person you want to be and the legacy you want to leave and how you want to live aims to beat brain cancer your life, you go out and make that happen. I love what I do; I love the joy of discovery, of the research science I think it’s fascinating and certainly that passion I like to share.” Dr Misty Jenkins. http://engagingwomen.com.au/stories/dr-misty-jenkins/ Gunditjmara scientist Misty Jen- kins, spends her days studying microscopic cancer killers. Win- ner of the 2017 CSIRO Profession- al Career Achievement Award, Misty Jenkins is killing cancer with white blood cells, and en- couraging more Aboriginal stu- dents to follow in her footsteps. As a child, Misty Jenkins, a young Gunditjmara woman from western Victoria, was fascinated by the way the human body works and how it manages to protect itself from infec- tious diseases yet succumbs to vi- “I see a lack of Indigenous voices ruses. She later became interested at the table across the industry in a career in scientific research and I want to see more Aboriginal after discovering that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Australians have some of the poor- involved,” Dr Jenkins has said. est health conditions in the world and are susceptible to so many in- “It is essential to have an Aborigi- fectious diseases. nal and Torres Strait Islander cultural lens applied to Western Currently Dr Jenkins heads an im- Science, just like it is important to munology laboratory at the world- have others with diverse back- renowned Walter and Eliza Hall In- grounds and genders in senior stitute of Medical Research positions in our workplaces. in Melbourne and, with her team, is “This breadth and depth of diver- working toward finding a cure for sity is what is going to drive inno- brain cancer. vation.” Immunotherapy, or priming the im- A strong promoter of STEM liter- mune system to kill cancer cells, is acy of Aboriginal and Torres one of the most exciting prospects Strait Islander students, Misty for the treatment of brain cancer, Jenkins says “By being visible, which kills more people under 40 you are showing students that STEM is than any other cancer. a viable career and that you can discov- er things that have never been discov- There have been no new treatments ered before.” for brain cancer in 30 years, and the survival rate has barely changed, with just 20 per cent of people diag- https://australiascience.tv/indigenous-stem-award-winners- nosed with the disease still alive five become-role-models-for-communities/ years later. Dr Jenkins has her sights set firmly on a goal now – to cure brain can- cer. An inspiration to all, read more about Dr. Misty Jenkins. Bush Foods, Fibre Technologies, Seasons and Mathematics Buxton Primary School in Victo- Students have also applied for a The program is incredibly powerful ria’s .. is a very small school with grant to purchase bush foods for from a cultural understanding per- only thirteen students. Using the environmental, health, and native spective. “The conversations stu- Taungurung Language Program it habitat reasons, and they will be dents are engaging in will lead to a teaches about Koorie Bush foods, presenting their learning to with an deeper respect for, appreciation of, seasons and maths. opportunity to teaching simple and understanding for the important Taungurung commands, vocabu- of protecting and advocating for In- Led by Taungurung Linguist Lee lary, and growing practices for vari- digenous rights” says Buxton Princi- Healy with the support of principal ous bush food plants which have ple Andrew Bagnall. Andrew Bagnall, the new program been historically prominent in that takes a holistic approach to teach- part of the world. ing. Students have been learning Do you have a Bush Tucker expert in about bush foods, fire as a resource Each class is run outside, on two your region? Learning about bush foods for land management and farming, and a half acres of land the school is a great introduction to Australian plant and tools, and have developed a is revegetating back to native, indig- species. pictorial bush food calendar. enous flora. Koorie plants, Koorie people : traditional Aboriginal food, fibre and healing plants of Victoria by Zola and Gott is currently out of print but available in many lending libraries. (VCDSTC015) Explore how plants and Gugorrak, native strawberries collected animals are grown for food, clothing for the Taungurung Language Program and shelter. at Buxton Primary School. (VCDSTC016) Explore how food is selected and prepared for healthy eat- ing. (VCDSTC025) Investigate food and fibre production used in modern or tra- ditional societies. (VCDSTC026) Investigate food prepa- ration techniques used in modern or traditional societies. (VCDSTC036) Investigate the role of food preparation in maintaining good health and the importance of food safe- ty and hygiene. all involved maintain ongoing learn- ing in this essential curriculum area EXTENDING MATHEMATICAL and have the expertise to deliver pro- UNDERSTANDING (EMU) is a re- fessional learning to their colleagues, search-based intervention program and work within a whole school ap- developed by Dr Ann Gervasoni of proach to improving learning and Monash University. EMU has been teaching for all. shown to improve children’s THE EMU Maths specialist teacher knowledge and confidence with math- courses each involve field-based ematics. The program offers intensive learning and a six day spaced learning learning opportunities for students program. The field-based learning who are experiencing difficulty in component involves teachers planning learning mathematics in the early and implementing an EMU Program years and beyond. Thornbury Primary throughout the year. The six day pro- School in Melbourne’s inner north gram involves workshops, data analy- have been using the program in the sis and reviewing video excerpts simu- early years for a number of years with lating