Innovation in Australia has been happening for tens of thousands of years.
Professor Lynette Russell is the co-author of Innovation: Knowledge and Ingenuity, which is part of the First Knowledges series.
In conversation with comedian Luke Morris and host Rachel Rayner, we explore the rich history and innovations of Indigenous Australians, particularly in the areas of language, trade, land management, and technology. We discuss how Western historical narratives have often overlooked or dismissed the sophistication and ingenuity of Indigenous societies, and how recent research is finally bringing this all to light.
Lynette shares her story of becoming an anthropological historian rather than an archaeologist, and her current line of research into trade relations between Australia and Indonesia thousands of years ago, while Luke spends much of the episode aghast at how little he knew of all this.
Links for more:
Get the book, or get the whole series
Follow Luke and Comedy Victoria
Credits
Producer: Rachel Rayner, Science Explainer
Guests: Professor Lynette Russell AM, Luke Morris
Music: Michelle Cashman
Editing: Graham Hunter
Made possible through Meta Australia Journalism Fund, administered by the Walkley Foundation, with support from Comedy Victoria.
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