Hostname: page-component-cb9f654ff-pvkqz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-08-31T19:02:02.714Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Improving the scientific literacy of Aboriginal students through astronomy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2011

Ragbir Bhathal
Ragbir Bhathal*
Affiliation:
UWS Observatory, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC NSW 1797, Australia email: r.bhathal@uws.edu.au
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Seventy per cent of Aboriginal students drop out of school before the end of their secondary school years and very few go on to do science at the Higher School Certificate level. As a result of this statistics reveal that only 0.003% of the 9000 university science graduates in 2005 in Australia were of Aboriginal origin. This paper discusses an astronomy project which seeks to improve the scientific literacy of Aboriginal students so as to motivate them to take up careers in science and engineering.

Keywords

Scientific literacyAboriginal studentsAboriginal astronomy

References

Badger, G. M. (ed) 1970, Captain Cook: navigator and scientist (Canberra: Australian National University Press)Google Scholar
Bhathal, R. & Bhathal, J. 2007, Australian backyard astronomy, 2nd edition (Canberra: National Library of Australia)Google Scholar
Bhathal, R. 2006, Astronomy & Geophysics, 47 27CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Claxton, C. S. & Murrell, P. H. 1987, Learning styles: implications for improving educational practices (Washington: Clearinghouse on Higher Education)Google Scholar
Craven, R. (ed). 1999, Teaching Aboriginal studies (Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin)Google Scholar
Freedman, R. A. & Kaufmann, W. J. III 2007, Universe (New York: W. H. Freeman & Company)Google Scholar
Guild, P. 1994, Educational Leadership, 51, 16Google Scholar
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 1997, Bringing them home: National inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families (Sydney: HREOC)Google Scholar
Toulmin, S. 1967, The philosophy of science (London: Hutchinson University Library)Google Scholar
Walker, K. 1972, Stradbroke Dreamtime (Sydney: Angus & Robertson)Google Scholar