
Desert to the Sea
2023 – 2028
Project Overview
This Project will expand our understanding of Aboriginal settlement and land-use in north-west Australia by investigating how the mythological narratives of Australia’s deserts enable the transmission of knowledge in water-limited environments.
The Project will address a number of objectives that bring together both Indigenous knowledge and western scientific approaches to develop improved management outcomes for Indigenous ranger groups managing vast cultural estates with significant rock art.
To achieve this Project’s ambitious goals, our researchers and collaborators are organised into four interrelated Research Nodes: Rock art and Jukurrpa, Fire and Plants, Collections, and Managing Cultural Landscapes.
Chief Investigators

Jo McDonald
Lead Chief Investigator
The University of Western Australia

Pauline Grierson
The University of Western Australia

Peter Veth
The University of Western Australia

Richard Fullagar
The University of Western Australia

Stephen van Leeuwen
Curtin University

Judith Field
The University of Western Australia

Rachel Popelka-Filcoff
The University of Melbourne

Emilie Dotte-Sarout
The University of Western Australia
Partner Investigators

Peter Jeffries
Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation

Annie Carson
WA Museum

Douglas Bird
The Pennsylvania State University

Justin McKinnon
Desert Support Services

Stefani Crabtree
Utah State University

Sharon Reynolds
Woodside
Collaborating Researchers

India Dilkes-Hall
The University of Western Australia

Mishi Meyer
Independent

Peter Kendrick
Independent
Project Staff

Sam Harper
Project Manager Research Fellow

Emma Beckett
Heritage Liaison Officer Research Fellow

Marc Wohling
Ranger Training Research Fellow

Chae Byrne
Anthracologist
Partners
This ARC Funded Linkage Project (LP200300886) is administered at The University of Western Australia, with chief investigators at Curtin University, The University of Melbourne, The University of New South Wales, The Pennsylvania State University, Utah State University, in collaboration with partner organisations Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation (MAC), Mungarlu Ngurrarankatja Rirraunkaja Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (MNR), and Jamukurnu Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation (JYAC), with funding from Woodside, BHP, Newcrest Mining, and with partner investigators from the Western Australian Museum, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and Desert Support Services.

















