Elements of Country: a First Nations-first approach to chemistry-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Elements of Country: a First Nations-first approach to chemistry

Published:2023-03-01 Issue:1 Volume:5 Page:29-38
ISSN:2569-3263
Container-title:Chemistry Teacher International
language:en
Short-container-title:

Author:

Masters Anthony¹^ORCID,Greenfield Peta²^ORCID,Davison Cameron²,Evans Janelle G.³^ORCID,Motion Alice⁴^ORCID,Barrett Jennifer⁵,Troy Jakelin⁶^ORCID,Constantine Kate²,Jackson Pulver Lisa Rae²^ORCID

Affiliation:

1. School of Chemistry , The University of Sydney , Gadigal Campus, Camperdown , NSW , Australia

2. The University of Sydney , Gadigal Campus , Camperdown , NSW , Australia

3. The University of Melbourne , Melbourne , VIC , Australia

4. School of Chemistry , The University of Sydney , Gadigal Campus , Camperdown , NSW , Australia

5. Museum and Heritage Studies , The University of Sydney, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences , Gadigal Campus , Camperdown , NSW , Australia

6. Department of Linguistics , The University of Sydney , Gadigal Campus , Camperdown , NSW , Australia

Abstract

AbstractCollectively, we have chosen to explore an Australian First Nations-first approach to understanding the chemical elements. We believe that engagement with cultural heritage, ongoing cultures, and the knowledges ofthis place—the lands on which we work, live, and study—will lead to new ways of understanding the elements and change the way we practice chemistry. The “First Nations first” phrase and approach comes from understanding the unique place that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have in the Australian context. In this paper we explore how a First Nations-first approach could take place in Sydney on Aboriginal lands. This approach is led by Aboriginal people, engages with culture, and is produced with local knowledge holders. So far, the work has entailed two years of meeting, conversing, and sharing space to determine appropriate ways of working together, interrogating the complexities of the ideas, and to refining our approach to the work. To appreciate the significant shift that a First Nations-first approach represents for chemistry, we consider the legacy of the Periodic Table. We share some reflections on how Indigenous knowledges can contribute to an expanded chemistry curriculum through the recognition of productive cultural tension.

Publisher

Walter de Gruyter GmbH

Subject

Education,Chemistry (miscellaneous)

Link

https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/cti-2022-0055/pdf

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