| Engineering Disciplines | Key Concepts | Web links and Resource Sites | Story Resources | |
| Aerospace and aviation | Design and operation of aircraft, propulsion systems, efficiency, spend and strength | http://www.alpha-port.com/nesdesigncontest/pdfs/GreatBoomerangChallengeOverview.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boomerang http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woomera_%28spear-thrower%29 http://www.roninfilms.com.au/feature/10738/western-desert-woomera-fashioned-with-stone.html |
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| Acoustics | How sound generated and propagated | http://newt.phys.unsw.edu.au/jw/didjeridu.html | Ben Lange Ausgrid Engineer. Email: blange at ausgrid.com.au |
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Environmental |
Preparation for growing foods,
harvesting, preserving |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portulaca_oleracea | Bruce Pascoe Bruce.Pascoe at uts.edu.au | |
| Biomedical | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_tetragonophylla | |||
| Construction | Material and construction techniques | http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/austn-indigenous-architecture
http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/land/aboriginal-houses#toc1 |
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| Chemical engineering | Convert raw materials into useable products | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinifex_resin | ||
| Civil | Physical infrastructures urban/living environments | https://www.australianarchaeologicalassociation.com.au/journal/review-of-gunyah-goondie-and-wurley/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_architecture http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/austn-indigenous-architecture |
Aboriginal Housing Coop
Lani at ahc.org.au |
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| Electrical | Electrical energy generation and usage | At the time of European arrival in Australia there was also no electrical engineering in Europe
Electrical flow can link to water and the way the communiites lieve off the life blood of the river |
Phil Duncan Cultural Advisor Macquarie University
phil.duncan at mq.edu.au |
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| Network engineering | Protocols for linking knowledge packets |
Networking and governance structures in Aboriginal society suggest a more trusted networking system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songline http://dl.nfsa.gov.au/module/1566/ https://japingkaaboriginalart.com/articles/songlines-important-aboriginal-art/ http://www.naidoc.org.au/2016-national-naidoc-theme-announced |
Bruce Pascoe?
Bruce.Pascoe at uts.edu.au |
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| Telecommunications | Communication | Message sticks | Michael West | |
| Mechanical | Force and energy | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woomera_%28spear-thrower%29
http://www.roninfilms.com.au/feature/10738/western-desert-woomera-fashioned-with-stone.html also http://www.jaunay.com/unaipon.html |
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| Mining | Extraction | http://www.environment.gov.au/node/19708 | ||
| Materials | Strength and other features, production | |||
| Naval architecture | Construction and propulsion | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aboriginal_Dugout_Canoes
http://australianmuseum.net.au/Building-a-canoe-noe-nowey/ http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2010/08/aboriginal-traditional-canoe-recreated/ |
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| Water and waste management
Aquaculture |
Physical, chemical, and biological treatment of water | http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/brewarrina
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewarrina,_New_South_Wales http://www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/ipa/declared/lake-condah.html |
Bradley Moggridge ANU Hydro Geologist
bradley.moggridge at anu.edu.au Phil Duncan Cultural Advisor Macquarie University Water management and fisheries phil.duncan at mq.edu.au |
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| Project Management | Sustainability | Every project should involve students across disciplines so that the understanding of how component parts link can be assessed.
The way that we consult and work in teams is crucial for the future success of designs |
Ben Lange Ausgrid Engineer. Email: blange at ausgrid.com.au Phil Duncan Cultural Advisor Macquarie University Water management and fisheries phil.duncan at mq.edu.au |
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| Information Technology | Teaching knowledge | http:://www.Indigital.net.au
Use of technology to link video and other material to art works to augment behind material and the providence and artist’s story |
Mikaela Jade mik at indigital.net.au | |
| Computer Engineering | Programming | Languages, whether computing or human, are ways of communicating in that culture | Terrie Lowe Bundjalung speaker and teacher
terrie.lowe at muurrbay.org.au |
All posts by ckutay
EnduringEngineering Project development
These are examples and ideas for setting up projects either to learn Indigenous Engineering with communities or to engage in Appropriate Technology development with communities
Fish traps
There are a wide variety of fish traps around Australia, the Gunditjatmara eel traps at Budj Bim, the Brewarrina Fish traps of the The town is located amid the traditional lands of the Ngemba, Muruwari and Yualwarri peoples and many up the coast of north eastern australia, as shown in this paper
Aligning Western and Aboriginal knowledges
Using existing resources we will provide specific physical examples of Aboriginal engineering that highlight the cultural influence on engineering. These examples will be linked to communities engaged with this engineering still, in some form.
Together these resources will provide a way for teachers and community to learn about this knowledge in a practical environment. It will also provide an in depth knowledge of the different approaches to engineering and engineering thinking that reflect the sustainable and holistic approach of Aboriginal cultures, as well as assist people to learn in an environment that emulates as much as possible the Aboriginal techniques of knowledge sharing.
Learning the knowledge involved learning the culture that surrounds that knowledge, as these two aspects are not separable. This is in itself a lesson in the foundations of sustainability.
Economic enablers
What are the enablers of economic participation in remote and very remote Australia, and how can we identify them?
Eva McRae–Williarns, John Guenlher, Damien Jacobsen & Judith LoveII
Abstract
In this paper we discuss some of the key learnings from the Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation (CRC REP), Remote Economic Participation, Pathways to Employment and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Product research projects.
While we do not deny the importance of global markets for remote Australians, we see value in opportunity structures that move beyond the confines of traditional economic and human capital theories. It is through acknowledging and building on local residents’ social, identity, cultural and natural capital strengths that, we argue, has a greater potential for supporting increased economic engagement and sustainable participation. Framing our learnings through a theoretical lens of different forms of capital we argue a shift in discourse from one of ‘disadvantage’ to one of remote advantage would be more supportive of education, employment and enterprise outcomes for local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander residents. While such a shift will not contribute significantly to the Gross National Product we argue that it would have important tangible and economic benefits for local people and the nation.
Involving students
AAEE Paper 2015 from project
Introduction
Histories of Engineering make little mention of the engineering activities of the Australian Aboriginal civilisation either before – or after – the arrival of European influences. Until Blainey’s most recent volume Australian history (Blainey, 2015) texts also make no mention of engineering activities in the era prior to the arrival of European residents. Exploring why this is so is the province of History, Sociology, Anthropology and Archaeology, not Engineering. However, in the context of Engineering Education the issue came into focus as team members worked on developing a model for embedding Indigenous (see afterword for comment regarding terminology) perspectives into engineering curricula. The goal is to encourage educators and students to collaborate in building more inclusive learning spaces.
Aboriginal Art as a Groundwater Map
See Brad Moggridge paper http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/25069917/aboriginal-art-as-groundwater-map
Underground water Management
Aboriginal people built water tunnels
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Wednesday, 15 March 2006
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The rainbow serpent, a key Aboriginal Dreamtime creation symbol, is closely connected with Indigenous knowledge of groundwater systems (Image: Reuters)
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Indigenous Australians dug underground water reservoirs that helped them live on one of the world’s driest continents for tens of thousands of years, new research shows.
The study, which is the first of its kind, indicates Aboriginal people had extensive knowledge of the groundwater system, says hydrogeologist Brad Moggridge, knowledge that is still held today.
Some 70% of the continent is covered by desert or semi-arid land, which meant its original inhabitants needed to know how to find and manage this resource if they were to survive.
“Aboriginal people survived on one of the driest continents for thousands and thousands of years,” says Brad Moggridge, who is from Kamilaroi country in northern New South Wales.
“Without water you die. They managed that water sustainably.”
Moggridge, currently a principal policy officer in the New South Wales Department of Environment and Conservation, did his research as part of a Masters degree at the University of Technology, Sydney – see Ground water Dreaming
He based his work on oral histories, Dreamtime stories, rock art, artefacts and ceremonial body painting as well as written accounts by white missionaries, surveyors, settlers, anthropologists and explorers.
Stone buildings
There is some contention around the use of the various stone structures found, but here is some research on this
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/sep/05/evidence-of-9000-year-old-stone-houses-found-on-australian-island
Involving students
Resources available from Canada:
http://www.aboriginalaccess.ca/resources/resource-downloads