Key points
- Mibu Fischer is ensuring Indigenous voices are incorporated into science.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and culture are being impacted by climate change.
- Mibu says there is a need for Indigenous peoples to engage and pursue science careers.
Mibu Fischer has worn a few different hats during her time at CSIRO. She’s been a cadet, a casual, an intern, a research technician, a research assistant, and now a marine ethnoecologist.
"A marine ethnoecologist is a term I made up for myself. It really was a term for me that described my role in marine ecology and looking at human interactions," Mibu says.
Mibu is a Noonuccal, Ngugi, Goenpul woman from Quandamooka country, in Southeastern Queensland.
As Australia’s national science agency, we recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Australia’s first scientists. We’re working with Indigenous partners and collaborators to support the strengthening of Indigenous knowledge in our science. Indigenous perspectives were included in the State of the Environment report for the first time in 2021.
In Mibu’s work, she looks at Indigenous interactions with the marine environment and how Indigenous science and knowledge can be incorporated within marine ecology and management.
Impacts of climate change on Indigenous culture
Mibu says Indigenous communities are being impacted by climate change in many ways.
"It’s quite well known that climate change impacts Indigenous communities mostly first before others. And that is because of our intricate understanding of the environment," Mibu says.
She says sea level rise is impacting Indigenous communities through inundation of freshwater supplies, inundation of sacred graves, degradation of coastlines and reduction of terrestrial territory.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are also being impacted through loss of culturally significant species through extinction or location shifts, and changes to habitats because of invasive species.
"While these issues also impact non-Indigenous communities, the wellbeing impact on a culture that is intrinsically connected to Country is significant,” Mibu says.
Mibu says given the acceleration of climate change, and the current society we live in, adaptation of culture to suit these changing climatic conditions is not widely acknowledged or talked about.
“In previous climatic events, Indigenous groups were able to move and adapt culture to suit the changing conditions of the environment,” Mibu says.
“With many Indigenous people, we’re limited in our ability to move and adapt, or change traditional practices. Some of these restrictions are legal regulations and state boundaries. But it is also due to the perceptions that Indigenous Traditions are static.”
Mibu says Indigenous communities are adapting the way ceremony is held or how particular species are utilised to protect country.
“These changes do not influence or make the practice, laws, or beliefs any less Indigenous. That is an important thing to remember,” she says.
Empowering Indigenous voices
Mibu says it’s essential non-Indigenous solutions and science seek to include Indigenous perspectives.
“Indigenous worldview seeks to include humans as part of the ecosystem and locally specific knowledge of place can include early indicators of change," Mibu says.
"But if decision-making processes at a larger scale also look to include Indigenous methodologies and theories, this would alter the values we currently place on the environment.
“It would mean there is a lesser emphasis on monetary values and a higher value on wellbeing of people and environment.”
Mibu says this cannot be done appropriately if Indigenous views, methods, and theories are not respected. She says Indigenous peoples are not adequately represented at present.
"This means in some instances a combination of western and Indigenous methods will work, sometimes western solutions need to be used and other times Indigenous methods will be the best," Mibu says.
"There needs to be equity in various knowledge systems. Indigenous people need to be empowered to participate within science."
Our Indigenous Graduate Program
Our Indigenous Graduate Program is a pathway into a career with Australia’s national science agency. The program matches Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander university graduates to projects and teams relevant to their field of study and career aspirations.
Mibu encourages young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to pursue careers in science.
“Global solutions are best reached with a diverse range of worldviews. There is a need for Indigenous peoples to engage and pursue science careers to amplify our voices and knowledges, while understanding the western system," Mibu says.
“We are able to bring the knowledge we have as Indigenous people to understand the issues our communities face and to bring the right people together to solve problems that impact us.”
Mibu shares her advice for young women wanting to work in a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) field.
“Reach out to others in this space and develop your community of peers,” she says.
“Having a strong community, no matter how small, is extremely important in spaces like science. And say yes to opportunities.”