65,000 yrs - the great history of Australian Aboriginal Astronomy | Kirsten Banks | TEDxYouth@Sydney

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Published 2019-05-07

Emus can’t fly, but there’s an Emu in the sky. People have been looking up to the stars for a long time, but for how long? Explore a different perspective of the night sky and learn about the great history of Australian Aboriginal Astronomy. Kirsten Banks is a proud Wiradjuri Woman and Astrophysicist with an undeniable passion for space and astronomy.

From a young age, Kirsten has always been fascinated by the sky. She first had a love for meteorology in Primary School, but then graduated from the clouds to the stars in mid-High School. Kirsten loves to communicate science and has done so on many platforms including writing for The Guardian Australia, speaking across Australia and Europe on numerous radio shows and has been a panellist on ABC TVs The Drum.

She is also a regular tour guide at Sydney Observatory. After graduating from an undergraduate degree in Physics in 2018, Kirsten strives towards commencing a PhD in the years to come. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

All Comments (21)

@loa81 5 years ago

Hello thank you so much for your Ted Talks episode. You are a natural storyteller and I enjoyed very much your presentation as well as the content. I’ve enjoyed archeology, astronomy, geology, and natural sciences my whole life (60+ now) It is very refreshing to hear you as a young person expressing your wonder & joy with their natural world. Culture does play a big part in seeing the world around us and it was very nice to see it in your eyes, expressions and great voice. Regards...
@juniordelaney1202 3 years ago

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. As a young Dunghatti Australian I find it hard to find much of my cultural history. Finding out we have such a rich connection with the stars has has really inspired me.
@EvilEves1 5 years ago

That was beautiful. Her passion for astronomy radiated from her with the brightness of the stars.
@dougg1075 5 years ago

I live in hurricane alley and when they hit and knock out power for weeks, the sky is amazing and demands your attention.
@andromedav.884 5 years ago

You are ADORABLE, Kristen! THANK YOU for sharing your knowledge and experiences. VERY relevant and thought provoking! 🙏 ✨💚✨
@Darwinsmom 3 years ago

This young lady is the first person I have ever heard speak of being enraptured by the night sky in a manner that matches my experience in New Zealand six years ago. Growing up in Northern Europe and in Canada, my familiar starscapes rarely struck me as particularly beautiful. Then I travelled to New Zealand, living out a dream I had held onto for a decade or more. One night, standing on my cousin's back patio in Wellington, I looked up at the night sky. Despite the city lights, I saw above me a sky speckled with glittering jewels that were totally unfamiliar to me. I was awe-struck by their beauty. I mean seriously overwhelmed! Knowing I was looking at the same stars that my gggGrandparents and their children lived their lives under after immigrating to New Zealand in 1864. My ggGrandfather was the only one of their children to remain in Ireland. I fell deeply in love with New Zealand in all her glory - the geography, the flora and fauna, the cuisine, the people - I couldn't get enough of any of it. But the stars! Oh, the stars! I only wish I had taken the time to appreciate the night sky when I visited Australia in 2005. I admit I am blessed to live in a country where on rare occasions we can see the Aurora Borealis when it rarely dips into the southern skies. But nothing is as enchanting as the cosmos as witnessed in Australasia. My life could end with my last sight being the night sky as I knew it in 2015, and I would leave this world with a massive smile on my face!
@juliekemp419 3 years ago

Very very good Kirsten. Love the sounds of Aboriginal instruments. So Earthy; so Deep; So Cymatic!
@EricHebting 5 years ago

This is brillant. We have to remember this knowledge.
@chrisgonzales3433 5 years ago

i hope we could also have a young and genius filipino like her in the philippines , she's an inspiration 🌈
@Heldin33 2 years ago

Actually, as Australians your so lucky! I am German and when I saw the “sky” for the first time was here in Australia. It’s impossible in crowded Europe to see something like this. So take this opportunity Australians. It’s a blessing.
@Derekmlacic 4 years ago

her brother is my science teacher
@saloniuppal 5 years ago

We are the most important people for our parents compare then whole world🌍 Big Thumbs for all parents how always support their children's in every single steps of life 😊👍
@mariokajin 5 years ago

That was the most poetic science talk I’ve ever seen and heard. Beautiful.
@joannebuckskin8116 2 years ago

I'm a Huge fan of this young First Nation woman .. thank you for sharing Kirsten cannot wait until you Dr Banks and have your own show on NITV
@dineshv2785 5 years ago

She has the skill for attracting audiences for her speech. Addictive
@anglomik 5 years ago

Great talk, TEDx and so true. Nothing like the beautiful night sky, with a full moon, the stars & constellations. There is truly magic up there.
@spirithawk2418 5 years ago

Wonderful !! We need this understanding
@heatherhill3547 5 years ago

My favorite person my dad told me about this very subject and thank you 🙏 so much for this Ted talk important impressive information let’s kill light pollution
@thoughfullylost6241 3 years ago

Great speech thank you you're far more generous to Western science than I am and I hope that generosity gives it some understanding of the deeper meaning Beyond surface knowledge
@jaxx-inspiregrowcreate2862 5 years ago

We live among the stars