The Faculty of Science’s Melbourne Indigenous STEM Education Program (MISEP) is a series of Indigenous-led, hands-on, curriculum-based workshops that aim to engage school students with Indigenous STEM knowledges.
What is MISEP?
The Faculty of Science’s Melbourne Indigenous STEM Education Program (MISEP) is a series of Indigenous-led, hands-on, curriculum-based workshops that aim to engage school students with Indigenous STEM knowledges.
The program aspires to ensure that the next generation gains a love of STEM-based inquiry and recognises and respects the impact of Indigenous knowledges on the past, present, and future of STEM. The workshops focus on the breadth of knowledge and connection First Nations peoples have with Country and their relationship to STEM through the elements of sky, fire & water. These workshops have been developed by Indigenous students and academics, Elders and knowledge holders, as well as other academic experts.
What workshops are in the program?
Country Workshop
Health Country means Healthy Community. Students are encouraged to consider the role Indigenous sustainable practices have played in this nation’s environmental management, for millennia. This MISEP session aims to inspire students to continue reflecting upon Indigenous perspectives and innovations within their STEM learning beyond the workshop, as well as consider the role they play in caring for Country. Adapted to year levels (Grade 5- Year 10).
NOTE: This workshop is not available until Term 3
Sky Workshop
Students will discover the techniques used in astronomy by Indigenous cultures to learn geography and way pointing, predict weather and seasonal changes along with finding foods and natural medicine with observation of plant and animal behaviour. Students will be encouraged to learn stories and histories of sky and star signs, mathematical activities, and learning about the moon and tide. This MISEP session will push students' knowledge on how Indigenous Peoples have predicted patterns and made their way around using their vast understanding of Country and the cosmos. Adapted to year levels (Grade 5- Year 10).
Fire Workshop
Students are educated on the productive uses of fire. Students will cover the topics of fire starting, vegetation regrowth, environmental and sustainability effect caused by controlled fires, what fire is, and the impact that strategic Indigenous burn-offs have on reducing environmental catastrophe, as well as how sediment cores demonstrate this. This MISEP session hopes to create an awareness and understanding on how Indigenous Peoples have been taking care of Country and the environment, and the meaning behind the importance of these long-practiced traditions. Adapted to year levels (Grade 5- Year 10).
Water Workshop
This MISEP session aims to inspire students to continue reflecting upon Indigenous perspectives in relation to Water Country. Students will learn the role Indigenous sustainable practices have played in managing the resources of various water bodies, providing sustenance and transportation and supporting ecosystems. Adapted to year levels (Grade 5- Year 10).
NOTE: This workshop is not available until Term 3
About the program
Who can access MISEP?
MISEP is a Melbourne Metro Schools Program, with limited capacity to Regional Victorian Schools.
Target students
The program is aimed at students between Grade 5 – Year 10.
Dates
Term 2 - Term 3 each year
Cost
Free to your school
Capacity
1 class per session- see workshop availability below.
Style
Hands-on, interactive workshops that include interactive sessions with videos and story-telling. Sessions give students an opportunity to consider First Nation knowledge and how they can incorporate this into contemporary scientific practice.
Requirements
Ideally the sessions are presented in classrooms with access to AV. Depending on weather and your school’s outdoor spaces, portions of the workshop(s) can also be conducted outside.
Email science-misep@unimelb.edu.au for more info.
Schedule your MISEP workshop
Frequently asked questions
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Can I have just one or two MISEP workshops come to my classroom/school or do we need to book all of them?
You do not have to book all of them. Our team can be booked to deliver any one of the workshops depending on workshop & facilitator availability.
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Who are the facilitators of the workshops?
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander University staff/students.
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Can we do a session with more than 1 class? Or like a presentation to a whole assembly?
No. To generate meaningful discussion and have enough interaction with the content, our sessions are designed for 1 class size maximum. However, there may be capacity to teach 2 classes simultaneously depending on facilitator availability.
You can also book us to come back and teach more classes and a different date/time.
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These MISEP workshops are incursions, do you offer excursions so that our class can come to The University of Melbourne to receive these as well?
The Faculty of Science MISEP team works closely with our colleagues at Science Gallery Melbourne who offer excursion versions of the Indigenous STEM workshops on the Parkville Campus (only Fire Practice is available in 2024). Check out their website for more information:
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Are there further resources for curriculum based-Indigenous knowledges or PD/training in this area for teachers?
Upon booking confirmation, the MISEP team will send resources for teachers to prep for the session in order to get the most out of the workshop and be on the same page for learning concepts covered.
For Teacher PD/training and further curriculum based-Indigenous knowledges resources please head to the University of Melbourne’s Ngarrngga website.
Further information
Please contact science-misep@unimelb.edu.au if you have further questions about the program.
And if you want to be kept in the loop about all upcoming workshops, events and activities for secondary school students run by the University of Melbourne, you can opt in to receive the quarterly STEM in Schools newsletter by filling out this form.