Fellow 2022-2023 DUANE HAMACHER
I am Associate Professor of Cultural Astronomy in the School of Physics at the University of Melbourne, Australia. My research focuses on the intersection of science and culture, specifically Indigenous astronomical and geological knowledges in Australia and around the world.
I study how humans understand the celestial realm, how they develop knowledge and applications from this, and examine how it can be safeguarded through cultural heritage and dark sky programs, with a focus on the history and philosophy of science and environmental anthropology. A particular area of interest examines the role of meteorite impacts in human history and their influence on society and cultural traditions.
I earned degrees in physics, astronomy, and Indigenous studies from the USA and Australia and work as a consultant and curator for theatre and musical productions, art and museum exhibitions, commemorative coins, tourism and public education programs, national curricula, urban design, and films. I presented at TEDx, appeared in the Warwick Thornton film “We Don’t Need a Map”, the National Geographic documentary “The Story of God with Morgan Freeman” and consulted on the Werner Herzog film “Fireball: Visitors from Darker Wo.
My first book, “The First Astronomers: How Indigenous Elders Read the Stars” (Allen & Unwin) was published in 2022 and my second book “Crux Australis: How a Constellation Shaped a Nation” is due for publication in 2024. My CAPAS Fellowship will focus on my third book about meteorite impacts and the apocalypse.