Indigenous Australians have a remarkably deep cultural and spiritual connection to their country.
Indigenous Australians have a remarkably deep cultural and spiritual connection to their country. Now, research at the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA is explaining the history behind this.
The landmark Aboriginal Heritage Project between the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Museum is creating a ‘genetic map’ of Australia’s first 50,000 years, using DNA analysis of hair samples collected from Aboriginal Australians between the 1920s and 1960s, together with extensive cultural and genealogical data.
The genetic record is astounding. It reveals remarkable longevity of Aboriginal populations and demonstrates a history unlike anywhere else in the world.
The research will enable Indigenous individuals to retrace their family and regional history, including the displaced Stolen Generations and their descendants.
This fascinating presentation will explore Australia’s history and the team’s collaboration with Aboriginal communities and families, and what they’re working to achieve next.
Professor Alan Cooper is founder and Director of the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA at the University of Adelaide, and the 2016 South Australian Scientist of the Year. He has led many large international multidisciplinary studies and created major new research areas including ancient human microbiomes (bacteria), ancient human genomes, and reconstructing the genomic history of Europe.
The genetic record is astounding. Following initial settlement in the north around 50,000 years ago, Aboriginal groups rapidly moved around both coasts before meeting in South Australia.
Hidden away in SA’s South East is a national, and global, treasure. The World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves house tens of thousands of beautifully preserved fossils, and paint a remarkably vivid picture of life during the last 500,000 years.
For some, it’s a source of boundless possibility; for others, fear and anxiety. Whichever view you lean towards, however, machine learning is a reality. All over the world, technology is performing complex tasks, ‘learning’ from the outcomes, and improving its future performance accordingly.
Since the Australian Institute of Sport’s (AIS) establishment in 1981, sports science and technology have become increasingly important contributors to elite sport in this country. Engineers and scientists now analyse the majority of sports to exploit every possible performance gain.
We’ve all heard stories of rum-soaked misadventure in Australia’s early colonial past. But fermented drinks, and food, were consumed on this land long before the First Fleet’s arrival, let alone our current love affair with kimchi and kombucha.
The commentators agree: Australia has a big problem when it comes to housing affordability. By 2025, as many as 1.7 million Australian households will not have the capacity to pursue home ownership, or rent without government assistance.
Indigenous Australians have a remarkably deep cultural and spiritual connection to their country.
Find out more Watch Video
Environmental conservation can be financially and physically challenging
Find out more Watch Video
Bacteria that cause common infections are dangerously close to regaining the upper hand.
Find out more Watch Video
Life is never without challenge, but when a child is born with a NDD, the challenges can be extreme
Find out more Watch Video
The latest examples of our proud history of global-impact innovation
Find out more Watch Video
The University of Adelaide has been helping Australia’s armed forces gain an edge for many years.
Find out more Watch Video
Men, we’re told, are their own worst enemies when it comes to health.
Find out more Watch Video
Our research students will tackle in the national 3 Minute Thesis competition.
Find out more Watch Video
Talk is often cheap. But when it comes to our food choices, its value is seemingly in free-fall.
Find out more Watch Video
Experts think Adelaide could be a global top five “Smart City” within a decade.
Find out more