The Ecological Society of Australia is pleased to announce Dr Holly Bradley as the winner of the 2022 Next Generation Ecologist Award. Dr Bradley is a researcher in the School of Molecular and Life Sciences at Curtin University.

“I find it inspiring that the ESA has supported a non-traditional ecological research project, which focusses on right-way science, considers the cultural importance of ecological restoration and conservation, and communicates these research findings to a wide audience of varying ages and backgrounds.”

During her PhD on the endangered Western Spiny-tailed Skink (Egernia stokesii badia; meelyu in the local Badimia language), Dr Holly Bradley collaborated with Badimia elder Darryl Fogarty. This partnership taught her that conservation of skink colonies is important for their cultural as well as their ecological significance.

Together, they plan to create a ‘Healing Country’ picture book series, to help share the ecological findings of this culturally significant animal with the local community living on Country. The first book will communicate the basic ecology of the Western Spiny-tailed Skink in an engaging and creative format for youth in the community.

Each story will focus on a particular animal, highlighting important ecological and conservation facts, as well as their cultural significance. The aim is to engage with children and bridge the gap between Western Science and Traditional Knowledge, subjects traditionally taught separately. The books will be illustrated by an Indigenous artist and written both in English and Badimia.

“Ecological science relies on a strengthened Western-Indigenous science interface to promote healthy ecological and cultural outcomes,” said Dr Bradley.

“Right-way science is a critical component of future research, particularly within the conservation and restoration space.”

‘Right-way’ or ‘cross-cultural’ science refers to the respectful blending of different knowledge systems and recognises the value of both Traditional Knowledge and Western Science to deliver better science outcomes.

“This project can act as a starting point to strengthen and build relationships within the Badimia community, as well as build capacity for Curtin University to continue with right-way science projects like this in the future,” said Dr Bradley.

Funding from the Next Generation Ecologist award will go towards translating the manuscript into Badimia.

Badimia is a critically endangered Aboriginal language, with few speakers remaining. Over 80% of Australia’s Indigenous languages are considered critically endangered, and their conservation is critical to maintain culture, oral history, and spiritual identity.

Story books in Aboriginal English are currently recognised as a unique, important resource for teachers within the public school system to recognise and celebrate the cultural diversity within Western Australia.

The book will be open access, with a Creative Commons licence, and royalties going to the Badimia community.

The runner up of the 2022 Next Generation Ecologist Award is Alexandra Carthey (Macquarie University).