A/Prof Duane Hamacher

28/08/2026

✨ 👣 Aboriginal astrophysicists to lead special 'Sky Country' event for Indigenous Literacy Day! 🪐 🌙

Gomeroi astrophysicist Krystal De Napoli and Wiradjuri astrophysicist Dr Kirsten Banks are joining forces to discuss the ‘library of knowledge’ embedded in Sky Country for this year’s Indigenous Literacy Day on 2 September!

This event will be held at the Sydney Opera House and will be livestreamed nationally to an audience of more than 350,000 students across the country. Krystal and Kirsten are both Ambassadors for the The Indigenous Literacy Foundation and experienced science communicators.

The event will also showcase a book launch and accompanying film titled "My Walk Through the Seasons on Ngaanyatjarra Country", a bilingual English and Ngaanyatjarra picture book written by respected Warakurna Elder Daisy Tjuparntarri Ward. The story introduces Niningka and Chris, two young Aboriginal people from Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and Nyirripi in the Northern Territory, following them as they explore Warlpiri and Arrernte language, plants, animals, culture and caring for Country.

Krystal De Napoli is a Gomeroi woman from Wangaratta, Victoria who studied astrophysics at Monash University. She is an award-winning science communicator, radio host, co-author of the best-selling 2022 book "Astronomy: Sky Country", and a Lecturer in The Burunh Program for Cultural & Indigenous Astronomy in the School of Physics at The University of Melbourne.

Dr Kirsten Banks is a Wuradjuri woman from the northern beaches of Sydney who studied astrophsyics at UNSW. She is a TEDx speaker, social media superstar () with more than 850,000 followers, and a Lecturer in the Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne.

Indigenous Science Network

READING LEVEL: GREEN

19/08/2026

It's official!!! Krystal De Napoli - Gomeroi woman, astrophysicist, radio host, science communicator, and award-winning author - is permanently joining The Burunh Program for Cultural & Indigenous Astronomy in the School of Physics at The University of Melbourne!!! ✨ ☄️ 🪐 🔭

Krystal is the first Indigenous staff member in the School of Physics. As an academic, she will teach Indigenous Astronomy (PHYC10010) starting next year and will contribute to research and outreach on an ongoing basis.

She is also the new Coordinator for the Bachelor of Science (Extended) - a 3.5 year degree exclusively for talented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students interested in science.
Krystal completed her training in astrophysics at Monash University, where she studied star formation, and co-designed and taught into a course on Indigenous science. She co-authored the award-winning 2022 book "First Knowledges: Astronomy - Sky Country" (Thames & Hudson) and hosts the weekly radio show "Indigenuity" on Triple R 102.7FM.

Krystal has appeared on numerous TV programs and films, given hundreds of public talks, and won an array of awards and prizes, including Illumina's Women in Genomics Bracelet in 2018, the 2020 Monash University Science Communication Award, the 2021 Out for Australia Young Professional of the Year Award, the 2021 Out for Australia 30 under 30 Award, the 2023 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards People's Choice Award, the 2025 7-NEWS Young Achiever Award, and was named as a 2025 Science & Technology Australia Superstar of STEM.

Krystal is an ambassador of the The Indigenous Literacy Foundation, leads Sky Country tours at Healesville Sanctuary, and is an accomplished author, artist, and one hell of a singer!

The Burunh Team is excited beyond belief for Krystal to be joining, as this has been in the works for years. And we finally made it!

01/06/2026

Enroll now!

Interested in learning about the role of astronomy in cultures and societies of the ancient past? Enroll in Archaeoastronomy (PHYC20017) for Semester 2, 2026 at the The University of Melbourne!

About this Breadth Subject

Ancient and Indigenous cultures of the world developed knowledge systems and constructed monuments that reflect ancient understandings of the Sun, Moon, and stars. The Sun and night sky played an important role in ritual, ceremony, power structures, architecture, and social development. Today, much of this knowledge is restricted to the material record in the form of artefacts, rock art, stone arrangements, and monuments, paying particular reference to the local landscape and skyscape. This subject will introduce students to archaeoastronomywith respect to ancient cultures, including case studies from from Australia, Mesoamerica, the Mediterranean, Mesopotamia, east Asia, and Africa.

The subject is not mathematically intensive, despite being offered through the School of Physics. It is open to all, and provides Arts students (expecially those majoring in Ancient World Studies/Archaeology) a chance to take a Science Breadth in their area of study!

This subject is offered through The Burunh Program for Cultural & Indigenous Astronomy and is part of the Cultural Astronomy Breadth track. It will also be included in the Cultural Astronomy Minor being offered from next year!

The subject is taught between the School of Physics (Weeks 1-6) and the School of Historical & Philosophical Studies (Weeks 7-12). It will consist of two lectures and one tutorial each week.

In Weeks 1-6, you will learn the history of archaeoastronomy, basic positional astronomy, theoretical approaches, methodologies, calendar systems, field techniques, and more. This is taught by A/Prof Duane Hamacher, President of the International Society for Archaeoastronomy and Astronomy in Culture and Director of The Burunh Program.

In Weeks 7-12, you will focus on case studies from around the world, with several guest lecturers. This section is taught by Dr Gerhard Wiesenfeldt, Deputy Director of The Burunh Program.

Subject Link:
https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2026/subjects/phyc20017

Breadth Track Link:
https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2026/components/btrack-136

22/05/2026

We are thrilled to announce that Māori scholar, scientist, and 2025 Atlantic Fellow, Te Kahuratai Moko-Painting, will be joining us to commence a PhD with The Burunh Program for Cultural & Indigenous Astronomy at The University of Melbourne!

Te Kahuratai will complete his thesis on lunar–stellar-environmental systems and calendars across Te Moananui-a-Kiwa (Pacific Ocean) - particularly in Rarotonga, Tahiti, and Hawaiʻi - in the School of Physics through the Indigenous Knowledge Institute, working with A/Prof Duane Hamacher and Professor Elizabeth McKinley.

Te Kahuratai has an extensive academic background, with a degree in Biomedical Science, a Diploma in Te Reo Maori, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Mathematics, a Master of Marine Conservation, and a Master of Social Change Leadership. He was a 2025 member of the Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity (AFSE).

We are thrilled to have Te Kahuratai onboard and look forward to the amazing contributions he will make to scholarship, to communities, and to education!

Huge thanks to Professor Joseph West, FIEAust (Director of the Indigenous Knowledge Institute), Professor Colette Boskovic, Professor Ann Roberts, and the IKI/Science team for facilitating, supporting and enabling this!

20/05/2026

Scholars have been studying human connections to the cosmos for decades - but where is our academic field headed? I chip in with my view and say things I feel need to be said... no punches pulled.

https://escholarship.org/uc/item/76d947td

Journal of Astronomy in Culture, Vol. 2026.

19/05/2026

Cultural & Indigenous Astronomy talk with Duane Hamacher - Libraries After Dark

Tuesday, 16 June 2026 | 6-8 PM

Head to Yarraville Library after hours for an insightful talk by Duane Hamacher, Associate Professor of Astrophysics and Director of The Burunh Program for Cultural & Indigenous Astronomy in the School of Physics at the The University of Melbourne... and a Yarraville, Victoria resident!

Duane's work examines humanity's connection to the stars and our presence in space in terms of science, history, culture, and society, with a focus on Australian Indigenous Astronomy. He is author of the best-selling book 'The First Astronomers: how Indigenous Elders read the stars', written with six Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders.

Book here: https://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/library/Events/Cultural-astronomy-with-Duane-Hamacher-Libraries-After-Dark

31/03/2026

02/03/2026

Get outside tonight and check out the lunar eclipse!

All of Australia will be treated to a "blood moon" tonight wherever the sky is clear. Here's how you can catch a glimpse of the last total lunar eclipse until 2029.

02/03/2026

A lunar eclipse ceremony from the Torres Strait turns our understanding of the history of science on its head.

16/02/2026

YOUR HELP NEEDED TO SAFEGUARD SKY COUNTRY from SpaceX and Reflect Orbital satellites.

Two satellite proposals of unprecedented scale and consequence are currently before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States. They not only impact our view of the stars, they directly threaten Sky Country on an absolutely enormous scale.

SpaceX's application is to launch up to one MILLION satellites as part of an expansion of its artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Reflect Orbital's application is to deploy satellites fitted with in-space mirrors to beam reflected sunlight BACK to Earth at night.

We are advocates of DarkSky International and encourage you to submit a comment to the FCC. You can find more information, templates and a step-by-step guide in the link below:

https://darksky.org/news/two-satellite-proposals-threaten-the-night-sky-the-window-to-act-is-now/

Please note that DarkSky International's position does not oppose satellite technology. They recognise its role in today's world, but oppose unchecked expansion without responsible oversight and full environmental review when technologies pose a real threat to the global nighttime environment.

In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the agency responsible for authorizing satellite launches and operations…