EPISODE TWELVE
Australian highlight: Corey Tutt OAM, founder of Deadly Science
Ah! moment: Building the visibility of Indigenous science.
Kamilaroi man, Corey Tutt has described himself as someone who is “not talented, but works hard.” The first part isn't true, but the second certainly is.
He founded Deadly Science in 2018, a not-for-profit organisation providing STEM resources to schools around Australia and connecting young First Nations People with mentors and role models. He has authored “The First Scientists” (which won Book of the Year), on the innovative knowledge of Indigenous Australians, and “This Book Thinks Ya Deadly”, which highlights incredible Indigenous Australians and leaves space for future deadly change-makers.
From his work, Corey has been awarded a Eureka Prize, named a Human Rights Hero and NSW’s Young Australian of the Year, and has received the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to Indigenous STEM education.
Image: Corey Tutt. Credit: Louise M Cooper, University of Sydney
Header image: Future deadly scientists. Credit: Deadly Science
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Uniquely human science
“If you want to see a scientist you hold a mirror, because it looks like every single human.”
Corey Tutt is bringing curiosity and interest in STEM to Indigenous communities, as well as role models, to inspire the next generation of STEM professionals and empower the current ones.
His focus, determination and willingness to connect with others is obvious and absolutely inspiring. I’ve felt the warm fuzzies and teared up reading his books and the content he has co-created for schools. This emotional power comes from his core belief:
“STEM is uniquely human.”
Yes, we’re talking about science, technology, engineering and maths – famously not part of the “humanities” study group. But this is the point at which the Western education system fails us.
This system separately boxes up topics so we come to have isolated “schools of thought” or “ways of looking” at the world. We can get so caught up in this that we can believe we only have ‘a science brain’ or ‘an arts brain’ or ‘a mind for sports’ – I would say these beliefs limit our ability to explore and reach our full potential. Things get missed, opportunities overlooked, innovation stifled.
Looking at Indigenous Knowledge Systems can be helpful in breaking down academic silos and opening up avenues of multidisciplinary thinking, which supports innovation. So much of Indigenous science looks at whole systems, and the interconnectedness of all things – which includes us as human beings. Everyone is a scientist because observing the world (a core part of science) cannot be separated from our existence in it.
And Indigenous Knowledge Systems are good.
Image: Corey's book, The First Scientists
Images: A student involved in a STEM activity. Credit: Deadly Science
Corey sharing is book, This Book Thinks Ya Deadly with students. Credit: Deadly Science
Little scientists in action! Credit: Tara Hodge/ABC
The cover of Deadly Science, How plants thrive, from the Australian Geographic series. Credit: Australian Geographic
As Corey notes in this episode of AH, Indigenous rangers were 6 seconds faster at finding bilbies than the researchers with all the bells and whistles. Indigenous science can still out-perform Western science, which is also seen in conversations regarding controlled burns for land management.
He also says, “both [ways of approaching science] have an absolute role to play.”
By opening up our definition of ‘science’ to something beyond the Western education system’s structure of isolation and narrowing vision (such as intense specialisation in ever-narrowing fields) to include the larger scope of Indigenous science practice, we can overcome knowledge gaps (even ones we may not realise are there!), innovate more, and build a more diverse cohort of scientific thinkers to solve the world’s challenges.
Deadly visibility: “You can’t be what you can’t see.”
Corey was always interested in science, but hampered by unhelpful career counsellors who proliferated harmful stereotypes. He was told to get a trade to avoid ending up dead or in gaol. Thankfully, over time he found his own way into zoology and animal research, but across ten years he only met two other Indigenous scientists in the field.
When you can’t see people like you, or from your culture, or your socio-economic background in these careers, it is hard to know that you can be there too. Corey’s organisation, Deadly Science, is changing that. Corey is making sure there are visible options and better advice for the next generation by supplying science resources to schools, opening up career pathways and increasing the visibility of Indigenous individuals.
It’s about showing students, through role models and resources, that there is a place in science for them too. They can have a voice in STEM.
One of these role models is Gunditjmara woman Professor Misty Jenkins AO from the Walter and Elizabeth Hall Institute (WEHI), who looks at better ways to beat cancer. An incredible pioneer and advocate, she works closely with Corey, Deadly Science and WEHI, to encourage and support Indigenous students into STEM careers.
And a change is happening:
“Young Indigenous kids in Australia, you know, they used to say they wanted to be a deadly footballer, now they’re saying they want to be a deadly scientist.”
Corey runs a STEM activity with students. Credit: Simon Hunter
The Greater Bilby, or Ninu. Credit: Australian Museum
Cover of This Book Thinks Ya Deadly by Corey Tutt and Molly Hunt. Credit: Hardie Grant Explore
Working together
“Reality is, the best science and the best science that’s ever been produced in this country and also globally is built off really good relationships.”
Corey talks about the recent work on the bilby genome – making headlines around the world when published in July 2024 – a project that analysed bilby droppings to map its DNA. This required close collaboration between University of Sydney researchers and the Kiwirrkurra community to collect the droppings of a specific population in the Gibson Desert. The research even uses the local name for the Greater Bilby, Ninu.
Corey notes that this project is empowering the Kiwirrkurra rangers to realise that they are scientists.
“It gave them a job, it gave them a career, it gave them a voice in STEM.”
The work the rangers do is extremely valuable not just to their communities, but to a global understanding of biology, right down to each piece of DNA.
One of the rangers, Scott West, says in The Conversation article on the research: “Using old-ways and new-ways together helps us get good information about Ninu and how to look after them. This is what two-way science is.”
This project is just one that can show us how broad science can be: it can be multi-disciplinary, wide-reaching, and certainly doesn’t need a lab coat. It’s not just in the realm of academia either.
Science is about asking questions, observing, testing and having open discussion to understand the world around us more fully.
Australian Indigenous knowledge is the oldest knowledge system of all. Indigenous understanding of nature has developed over tens of thousands of years to be fuller and richer in many areas than current academia. To bring the two together makes perfect sense.
With Deadly Science showing that everyone has the capacity to be a scientist, and Corey building collaborative networks, perhaps Australia is on track for a wholistic and productive science landscape where everyone can play a part.
Because science is for all of us, and we are all scientists.
Find out more and join in!
Deadly Science was founded by Corey in 2018. Since then, it has evolved into Australia's leading Indigenous STEM charity, supporting over 800 schools and community organisations nationwide. You can support the work of Deadly Science by partnering, donating, volunteering or following them on social media channels. There's also a whole lot of teacher resources.
Buy the books for yourself, your family or add them to your school’s library:
- The First Scientists - Deadly Inventions and Innovations from Australia's First Peoples
- This Book Thinks Ya Deadly! - A Celebration of Blak Excellence
- Deadly Science - Animal Adaptations
- Deadly Science - Wild Weather
- Deadly Science - Earth's Changing Surfaces
- Deadly Science - The Solar System
- Deadly Science - Animal Survival
- Deadly Science - How Plants Thrive
- Deadly Science - Renewable Resources
- Deadly Science - Numbers in Nature
- Deadly Science - Light and Colour
Reptiles were Corey’s gateway into STEM and his latest book, Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles, is a celebration of Australia’s wonderful diversity of scaly things.
This episode's comedic guest: Melody Rachel
Melody is a performer, producer and podcaster, who has just started branching into stand-up comedy, her first full length show taking place in the 2024 Sydney Comedy Festival to a sold-out audience. Her other art practice is to create movement-based solo work exploring gender, identity and anxious thought patterns, which she has performed in theatres and festivals around the country. Her podcasts explore existence as both gay and Christian, and are driven by a desire to make sense of ideas which impact our culture.
Outside of this, she works in support services for disadvantaged youth.
You can follow Melody on Instagram and watch her podcasts on Youtube.