Kirsten Banks is a Wiradjuri woman and a rising astrophysicist at Swinburne University. She works to bring traditional Indigenous knowledge into conversation with contemporary scientific understanding. Her research combines the fields of stellar spectroscopy, asteroseismology and galactic archaeology. Together, these two pairings offer an exciting and unique lens through which to explore astronomy while uplifting the cultural importance of the stars. As a science communicator, Banks has worked to promote knowledge and understanding of Wiradjuri astronomy. Most importantly, she unearths its deep ties to the natural world we live in.
In her PhD research, Banks delves deep into the universe’s workings while illuminating the wisdom embedded within her culture’s astronomical narratives. By studying constellations from the perspective of a chart made centuries ago, she emphasizes time-tested wisdom that exists far before science textbooks were ever established. This understanding feeds directly into her scholarship. It’s become an essential tool for real-life application on the Wiradjuri ground.
The Intersection of Culture and Science
Astronomer Kirsten Banks believes it’s essential for everyone to learn astronomy from a scientific and cultural standpoint. Read on as she describes her work weaving together Indigenous storytelling and scientific methodology. This link, when paired with art, encourages a holistic understanding of the cosmos.
“You’ve got Leo, you’ve got the crab — cancer — gemini there, the serpent…” she notes while discussing familiar constellations. Yet, as Banks notes, the majority of these names come from the ancient Greek tradition. She juxtaposes this with her own culture’s deep and personal relationship with the stars, nurtured over centuries through oral tradition.
Beyond just teaching people how to spot constellations, her research involves connecting them to the natural world. For example, she teaches when is the appropriate time to go hunting for emu eggs, determined by observing the celestial sphere. By spreading this deep, practical understanding, Banks is deepening appreciation for the importance of connectedness both to the natural world and life’s cycles.
The Stories Behind the Stars
One of the most captivating aspects of Banks’ work is her recounting of traditional Wiradjuri stories that explain celestial phenomena. She animates these stories with vivid imagery and striking emotion, making them bendable to any audience.
From the southern hemisphere we see him from underneath, and in some stories that makes a difference. As she tells us, illustrated with Indigenous Australian creator Thomas Dunbar’s retelling of the story of Baiame and Dinawan, “There’s a story about Baiame running around trying to chase Dinawan — which is an emu — and he trips on a log and falls flat on his face.” Their vibrant cultural storytelling tradition passes down significant values and ideals. It gives us a look into how Indigenous peoples’ dynamic lives shape their relationships with the cosmos.
Banks goes on to explain the importance of the Southern Cross within the context of Wiradjuri astronomy. “The story behind this is so beautiful. The cross we call Yarran, it actually is a tree, and the pointer stars are muraany muraany, which are two cockatoos,” she says. The story goes on to describe how each of these pieces symbolize home and family ties across the heavens.
Practical Knowledge for Modern Applications
Kirsten Banks isn’t just a storyteller who celebrates Indigenous astronomy, she implements its tenets in her daily life today. Her teachings are rich with tangible insights that can be applied by folks across her community, and far outside it.
“We change our perspective from an emu to an emu egg in a nest. We are the egg,” she articulates, providing a metaphor for understanding one’s place in the world. Grounded by this understanding, the leader as caretaker prompts each person to understand their contributions to their local community and ecosystem, and society at large.
Through these communications, Banks demonstrates how celestial movements serve as organizers for diverse tasks. For instance, they alert when emus go in search of partners or begin constructing nests. “If it’s on the horizon after sunset, it looks like it’s running along the ground, so that shows Dinawan running around looking for a mate and trying to make their nests,” she notes. These types of insights are just a glimpse into how the wisdom of our ancestors can inform our present.
