World first research into an Australian sandy cay island: interview with Professor Ian McNiven

Monash Arts

If the Tudulgal could thrive on a small sandy island and become a leading control centre in Australia's Torres Straits, how can these insights help build more resilient and sustainable communities around the world? Compared to other countries, Australia has next to no research about its sandy cay islands that formed 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, but that is about to change with a new break-through ARC Discovery project by Monash Indigenous Studies Centre Professor Ian McNiven in collaboration with the Tudulgal and local communities in the north of Australia. As part of Monash Arts Researchers podcast series, Professor Ian McNiven shares the incredible discoveries made so far about Tudu island – that was the epicentre of the Torres Straits, one of the greatest maritime societies the world has ever seen. And, we hear about the project’s future plans and opportunities for students and researchers. The project will offer for the first time longitudinal evidence on how major societies could thrive on sandy cays in Australia, shedding important insights for communities around the world searching for ways to build more resilient communities against climate change and major challenges ahead. --- Interested in doing a PhD (Arts)? Details at arts.monash.edu/graduate-research