Indigenous Mathematics I. Smoke Telegraphy

Rowena Ball

Indigenous Mathematics I. Smoke Telegraphy

Mathematical Sciences Institute

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The following article is the first in an occasional series for the Australian Mathematical Society Gazette on diverse aspects and topics of Indigenous mathematical knowledge. This is an important, but neglected, part of the mathematical heritage of humankind, and as such is the concern of the mathematics community as a whole. It is hoped that this and future articles may help to inspire mathematics researchers, students, and educators at tertiary and school levels who are seeking to widen their mathematical horizons and develop course and research materials of broad cultural relevance.

I would like to honour the Mithaka peoples of the Kurrawoolben and Kirrenderri (Diamantina) and Nooroondinna (Georgina) river channel country of SW Qld. The material in this article does not involve culturally restricted knowledge or images, and is shared with respect for the Mithaka ancestors and their descendants.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	19-23
Journal	Gazette of the Australian Mathematical Society
Volume	52
Issue number	1
Publication status	Published - Mar 2025

Access to Document

1 Finished

National Indigenous Research and Knowledges Network
Moreton- Robinson, A. (PI), Wood, A. (PI), Adams, M. (CoI), Aitken, W. (CoI), Andersen, C. (CoI), Anderson, I. (CoI), Avery, S. (CoI), Bainbridge, R. (CoI), Ball, R. (CoI), Behrendt, L. (CoI), Bessarab, D. (CoI), Best, O. (CoI), Blyton, G. (CoI), Bodkin-Andrews, G. (CoI), Brooks, R. (CoI), Burns, M. (CoI), Butler, K. (CoI), Clapham, K. (CoI), Coffin, J. (CoI), Collard, L. (CoI), Dudgeon, P. (CoI), Dunbar, T. (CoI), Duthie, D. (CoI), Ford, L. (CoI), Fredericks, B. (CoI), Green, S. (CoI), Guthrie, J. (CoI), Harkin, N. (CoI), Henderson-Yates, L. (CoI), Johnston, S. (CoI), Judd, B. (CoI), Kelly, L. (CoI), Kinnane, S. (CoI), Larkin, S. (CoI), Lee Hong, A. (CoI), Martin, K. (CoI), Maynard, J. (CoI), McMillan, M. (CoI), Scott, K. (CoI), Stanton, S. (CoI), Thompson, M. (CoI), Troy, J. (CoI), Trudgett, M. (CoI), Tur, S. (CoI), Walter, M. (CoI), Williams, K. (CoI) & Wilson, C. (CoI)
20/12/12 → 31/12/22
Project: Research

2 Article
1 Preprint

Pyrolysis and Colour Chemistry of Indigenous Smoke Telegraphy
Ball, R., 27 Oct 2025, (In preparation) 21 p.
Research output: Working paper › Preprint
Indigenous Mathematics: From Mainstream Misconceptions to Educational Enrichment
Xu, H. & Ball, R., Jun 2024, In: Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education. 24, 2, p. 160-175 16 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
3 Citations (Scopus)
STEM the Gap: Science belongs to us mob too
Ball, R., 2015, In: Australian Quarterly. 86, 1, p. 13-19
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Cite this

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Indigenous Mathematics I. Smoke Telegraphy

Abstract

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Projects

National Indigenous Research and Knowledges Network

Research output

Pyrolysis and Colour Chemistry of Indigenous Smoke Telegraphy

Indigenous Mathematics: From Mainstream Misconceptions to Educational Enrichment

STEM the Gap: Science belongs to us mob too

Cite this