Ethnoastronomy, Astronomy Through Cultural Approaches and Local Wisdom
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id— On Friday (16/7/2021), LPPM ITB and Design Ethnography Lab. FSRD ITB held a Karsa Loka Vol. 009 talk show via Zoom and Youtube channels. Dr. Hakim Luthfi Malasan, M.Sc., Astronomy lecturer at FMIPA ITB, presented "Astronomy Education for Education Activists using Cultural Approaches and Local Wisdom" on this talk show.
Astronomical knowledge has a long history in Indonesia and is closely linked to the people's culture. There is a lot of evidence that shows that Indonesians had knowledge of celestial bodies, agrarian calendar systems, and nautical navigation even before science was understood.
Local astronomical wisdom has a lot of possibilities for development in the present period of science, one of which is through education in schools. Teachers and educators, according to Dr. Hakim, have a crucial role in responding to the trend of the younger generation becoming more interested in science.
On the other hand, he stated that astronomy education is frequently limited by the government's lack of attention to teachers, costly investments in supporting facilities, and the absence of a specific curriculum that tackles astronomy. "This condition makes it difficult for teachers to find a position where they can teach astronomy to their students," said Dr. Hakim.
Dr. Hakim and his team devised a program based on IAU-Network for Astronomy School Education (NASE) principles in response to education activists' concerns. NASE welcomes school teachers to strengthen their understanding and teaching skills in astronomy through a series of lectures, workshops, and excursions.
Furthermore, the NASE workshop offers the opportunity to create basic teaching aids to improve teaching and encourage interest in understanding astronomy from a young age. "Not only are teachers urged to listen, but they are also expected to practice and demonstrate the tools they create," Dr. Hakim stated.
The enthusiasm of 74 participants from all throughout Indonesia for attending the NASE 2020 online workshop did not fade even during the pandemic. Dr. Hakim also presented some outcomes of their discussion about the ancestors' usage of astronomy. One of them is the Ceto Temple site in Central Java, which is said to be tied to the Inca Maya and contains a room that looks like an ancient observatory.
“Nature is painting for us, day by day, pictures of infinite beauty if only we have eyes to see them,” Dr. Hakim said at the end of his presentation, quoting John Ruskin.
Reporter and translator: Sekar Dianwidi Bisowarno (Bioengineering, 2019)
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