Bridget Kelly: Exploring cultural connections in the night sky
Bridget Kelly, a PhD student at the Complex Human Data Hub (CHDH) at the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences (MSPS), blends psychology, visual perception and Indigenous night sky knowledge in her research. Her passion lies in understanding how diverse cultures perceive and narrate the patterns in the stars.
Bridget Kelly, a PhD student at the Complex Human Data Hub (CHDH) at the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences (MSPS), blends psychology, visual perception and Indigenous night sky knowledge in her research. Her passion lies in understanding how diverse cultures perceive and narrate the patterns in the stars.
Bridget commenced her journey with a minor thesis on individual differences, researching how our personalities and life experiences affect how we perceive and experience the world. A conversation with Associate Professor Simon Cropper changed her path. These individual differences were all true, he acknowledged – except when it came to the constellations in the sky. “Everyone sees those as the same.”
Captivated by his comment, Bridget began exploring the commonality of constellations across cultures.
Her thesis examines how different cultures, despite their distinct backgrounds, identify similar constellations and share analogous narratives. This phenomenon often occurs independently, without cross-cultural learning.
“My thesis on the commonality of constellations in the night sky touches on so many areas of interest: visual perception, astronomy, cognition, narrative and storytelling. All the while getting to examine the magical night sky,” says Bridget. Her research highlights Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander night sky knowledge, aiming to contribute to the appreciation and inclusion of Indigenous ways of knowing in science and education. “I hope this work will contribute towards a culture where we connect, understand and value our First Nations history more fully. I hope this will play a part in delivering justice and wellbeing to First Nations people and communities. There is so much we can learn from such highly sophisticated ways of knowing that weave interdisciplinary thinking and thousands of years' worth of knowledge together. More widely, I hope we will be able to exhibit this research in public science and art exhibitions. I would love to provide a moment for people to experience a sense of wonder and connection; to each other and the world above us. A little reminder us of the ways we are more similar than we are different. she explains.
Bridget chose MSPS for its interdisciplinary support. “MSPS supported the collaborative nature of this PhD, which was important to its success,” she notes.
Her supervisory team includes both psychology and physics experts, such as Associate Professor Cropper, and the School of Physics’ Associate Professor Duane Hamacher, who focuses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander astronomy. Bridget feels fortunate to have such a high-calibre, cross-disciplinary team guiding her research.
Her study investigates how individuals across different cultures and time periods perceive similar constellations and develop common narratives. She aims to demonstrate that people create common constellations by grouping stars in ways influenced by visual perception principles. “We aim to establish that individuals create common constellations through patterns of grouping stars where prior night sky knowledge is minimised,” she explains. Her future research hopes to explore the role of narrative in memory and the preservation of essential cultural information.
The interdisciplinary nature of Bridget’s work has been particularly engaging. “Being part of weaving together knowledge from theoretical areas is my happy place,” she shares. Learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander night sky knowledge has been especially fulfilling. She has also expanded her skills in data science and analysis, embracing advanced techniques such as Bayesian statistics and modelling.
Bridget is passionate about sharing her research with the public through citizen science initiatives, art and exhibitions. Despite some initial setbacks due to COVID-19, she looks forward to pursuing these opportunities in the future. Additionally, she enjoys guest lecturing on Indigenous Astronomy, contributing to the education of new students. Through its intriguing blend of psychology and cultural astronomy, Bridget’s journey exemplifies the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Her research makes a unique and impactful contribution to both science and society.