Claire Dixon

Title: Embedding Indigenous knowledge in engineering education to drive sustainable engineering practices

Summary: I propose to undertake a study into recent and current teaching programs that seek to bridge Western engineering knowledge and Indigenous knowledge systems.

The study would build on Martin Nakata’s cultural interface theory in which he explores the specific interface where Indigenous and non-Indigenous meet. The study would focus on learning units undertaken by engineering students at Australian universities.

The findings would enable engineering educators to improve approaches to bringing together two cultural epistemologies, co-existing and creating mutual benefit for both Aboriginal communities and engineering students.