My Fulbright research investigates whether First Peoples in Australia have the ability to detect the earth’s magnetic field as a result of sophisticated navigational practices deeply encoded in First Languages. This work on magneto-reception brings linguistics and science to the task of describing one of the extraordinary abilities of First Peoples in Australia.
Professor Felicity Meakins is a linguist at the University of Queensland, specialising in the documentation and revitalisation of First Nations languages in northern Australia. With over two decades of experience, she has facilitated community language programs and studied the effects of English on Indigenous languages.
As a Fulbright Scholar, Felicity will investigate First Nations navigational systems and their potential links to the geomagnetic field.