Submitted by Liza Young
on
Our new Pacific Indigenous Astrophysics UW Study Abroad program represents a fundamental shift in how we teach astronomy. Students will immerse themselves in the islands of Hawaiʻi, learning how Pacific Islanders have connected with the night sky for millennia. This program goes beyond traditional astronomy education - it acknowledges and celebrates different ways of knowing and understanding the cosmos. The 20 students selected to participate in the first year of this program will work directly with practitioners of traditional voyaging techniques, learning how ancient wisdom continues to inform modern navigation and astronomical understanding.