Oxford XIII / IAU Symposium 399
Indigenous Astronomy in the Space Age
7-11 July 2025 (NAIDOC Week)
University of Melbourne, Australia
Peter Lieverdink
Abstract submission is open from 15 August to 15 December 2024.
Registration is open from 15 February to 15 June 2025.
About the Symposium
Astronomy is considered the oldest science, with observations of the Sun, Moon, and stars setting the earliest foundations for marking time, forecasting weather, navigating land and sea, predicting seasonal change, and serving as a memory palace for oral traditions that passed knowledge to successive generations over thousands of years. Even the modern scientific process of astronomy has roots in history, religion, cultural traditions, and philosophy. As we continue to research, debate, and discuss this fact, we are becoming better equipped to refine our approach to studying the cosmos and understanding our place within it. ISAAC has been pioneering this research for more than 40 years. Now, with eyes to the future, we are able to explore how our understanding of space, astronomy and culture can guide us forward as we expand our presence in space. Current collaborations are bringing together astronomers, Indigenous elders, educators, and social scientists to understand how ancient systems of knowledge can inform research and engagement practices. The modern era is dominated by astronomical discoveries, cutting-edge technologies, and a growing human presence in space. We are well into the Space Age, seeing significant advances in space exploration and plans to build habitats for humans on the Moon, Mars, and beyond, as proposed NASA’s Artemis Project. A range of social challenges accompany the technological and scientific advancements that are required to realise humanity's space-based ambitions. How can we address critical issues in the astro/space sector? IAUS 399/Oxford XIII is an in-person and virtual symposium that recognises the important impact of cultural astronomy on astrophysics and the space sector with regard to addressing pertinent questions about the future of humanity in the Space Age. The symposium will take place during Australia's NAIDOC Week 2025, which celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culture. The symposium will address the following questions: (1) How can the astronomical and space communities support Indigenous Knowledge, engage collaboratively with First Nations communities, and pave a future for the next generation of Indigenous astronomers? ​ (2) How can we safeguard astronomical knowledge and heritage while establishing roadmaps and guidelines for humanity’s future in space? ​ (3) How are Indigenous astronomies, ground-based observatories, humanity's expansion into space, and the relationships between them juxtaposed in our future vision as we progress through the Space Age?​ This symposium aims to bring scholars, elders, scientists, and policy makers together to address pressing issues to guide future synergies between Indigenous knowledges, cutting-edge astrophysics, and our collective future in the Space Age.