…the internship provided [an] opportunity to apply some of my research to real-world problems, to get a measure of its applicability.

Short bio:

Penny Purdie is a first year PhD candidate interested in the linkages between linguistic and cultural diversity and ecological biodiversity. A non-Indigenous researcher, Penny strives to create spaces through collaborative, Indigenous led research that can amplify the voices and perspectives of First Nations peoples. Through their research, Penny and her co-researchers will be exploring the forms and methods that can best express Indigenous ways of knowing and the knowledge of Country. Penny has recently completed a 3-month internship with the Australian Academy of Science through APR Intern.

Tell us about your PhD research topic in 100 words or less:

I am working on a collaborative doctoral study that is co-designed and led by a group of Bunuba wiyi (Indigenous women of the West Kimberley, W.A.). Our research reflects upon the unique knowledge that Bunuba women hold of Country, and how that knowledge is carried through language and cultural practice. Through our study we are seeking to create spaces in which Bunuba wiyi can strengthen their greatest obligation to Country – the teaching of the next generations. Our study will facilitate the strengthening of Bunuba led language and cultural practices through a series of on-Country camps and workshops.

What motivated you to do a graduate research internship with the Australian Academy of Science?

There were a couple of reasons why I applied for this internship. Probably the main reason was because I saw this as an opportunity to test out some of my thinking. I really love research as it allows you to play within the boundaries of knowledge, probing and stretching out known concepts and theories. But I also think that research needs to have a counterpoint within our lived realities, I believe that we all would like to create something that will have some form of impact.

For me, the internship provided that opportunity to apply some of my research to real-world problems, to get a measure of its applicability. It was also a chance to identify those points of tension between my research and non-academic spaces and to consider how these conflicts can best be negotiated.

I also saw the internship as a chance for a pause on my own research. I am undertaking a full-time, scholarship supported PhD. Because of this, I am tightly tied to the academic clock, so there isn’t really any built-in opportunity for reflection on my emerging research and process. I saw the internship as way to take a step aside from my principal studies and create some space for myself to allow my research and thinking to take time to settle, rest and germinate.

I was also motivated for this internship as an opportunity to work with the Research and Policy team at the Australian Academy of Science. Policy frames so much of our lives, and it is often policy that we come up against in our efforts to create spaces designed and led by Bunuba wiyi. This internship provided me an incredible insight into how our policies are written, who does the writing, and what are the powers and biases that shape the writing of policy. This was a level of exposure to policy that I could not have gotten through research alone.

Please tell us a bit about your internship project, and what you produced during the internship (ie reports, presentations etc):

The Australian Academy of Science (AAS) aspires to strengthen its engagements with Indigenous Knowledges and Indigenous Knowledge Holders. My internship was designed to support these aspirations, with my project being the creation of an internal advisory brief to guide the AAS as they begin to deepen their interactions across knowledge systems. My report was a synthesis of the relevant academic literature, grey literature, guidelines and frameworks that currently inform cross-cultural knowledge exchanges both nationally and internationally.

I further supported the AAS Research and Policy team with other research relating to the breath-taking number of policies, submissions, reports, and literature reviews that they are engaged to produce. However, the bulk of my time was spent on producing my project-specific report. Given the complexities and ethical considerations inherent in cross-cultural knowledge exchanges, this final report was quite extensive. The key findings were summarised in an Executive Summary and then presented to the secretariat of the AAS in a final oral presentation.

Were there any ethical issues you needed address during your internship, and how did you approach them?

The key rule when working with Indigenous Knowledges and Indigenous Knowledge Holders is ensuring that all projects are Indigenous designed and led. When my internship was first being planned, the Australian Academy of Science (AAS) was in the process of creating a cross-cultural knowledge team, inclusive of Indigenous Knowledge Holders. It was perceived that my internship would be undertaken in support of the existing knowledge exchange project. However, the implementation of a cross-cultural knowledge exchange team had to be postponed, and ultimately, I was working in this space alone.

As a non-Indigenous researcher, I felt increasingly uncomfortable that my project did not benefit from Indigenous leadership, and that I might be assuming the role of the ‘expert’. Non-Indigenous expertise is incredibly problematic in these spaces and writes back to the colonised production of knowledges. Such practices go against all protocols and also my own learnings over the years. I very much struggled with my positionality over the course of this internship.

To mitigate these tensions, I chose to bring attention to them. My report and presentation repeatedly returned to the necessity of Indigenous leadership, and I emphasised the ethical concerns that the project was raising within me. Fortunately, in my final presentation, I was generously joined by Natalie Davey a woman of Bunuba, Walmajarri and Scottish heritage who I proudly call friend, colleague and sister. Nat’s input into the presentation provided her unique perspective on the importance and urgency for greater Indigenous leadership in cross-cultural spaces. It was interesting to be able to witness the impact her personal perspective and wisdom had on the audience. Her statements not only expanded upon my work, but her presence was also the living proof of the necessity of collaborative research that is led by and creates space for Indigenous perspectives and voices.

When we started this project, I don’t believe any of us could foresee the ethical dilemmas that it would raise. I was surprised at the visceral feeling of discomfort that this produced within me. And even though it was difficult to navigate, I very much welcome the experience.

The focus of cross-cultural knowledge exchanges is not on the outcome, rather the process of engagement. It’s not about what you achieve but what you learn along the journey. The tensions that I faced during this internship were a powerful lesson for me. I knew the literature and the importance of Indigenous leadership in these spaces, but this was the first time that I had worked in absence of such leadership.

The feeling that I carried inside during this internship, is one that I will never forget. And how I continue navigating these spaces with honesty and integrity, will be forever reshaped because of this experience. This was a lesson that I could not have gotten from academic research alone and it is one that I will always carry.

How has the internship had an impact on you as a researcher? Has it changed your approach to any aspects of your PhD research?

How we will communicate our collaborative doctoral journey, has already been identified as a key focal point within our research team. Particularly how we will give voice to Bunuba wiyi and Bunuba Country that maintains their integrity. We will also be communicating to academic, non-academic and Indigenous audiences, so we will need to explore how we can express our knowledge, learnings and experiences to a diverse audience. The necessity for exploring other forms of communication was readily apparent throughout the internship.

The objective, expert voice required in policy writing did not fit with the themes, values, and ideas that I was trying to communicate in my project report. Nor is this a form that non-academic Indigenous Knowledge Holders can easily adapt to or is it always an effective reflection of Indigenous ways of knowing. This was further emphasised by the impact that Nat Davey had during the oral presentation. Her spoken words conveyed a stronger and more easily absorbed message than my written report could deliver.

This isn’t limited solely to Indigenous Knowledges and Knowledge Holders, within the Australian Academy of Science, there is a clear focus on how best to communicate key concepts to busy decision makers. Infographics, text boxes, case studies and clear, explanatory subheadings are all methods that the policy team relies upon to convey their messaging. For me this was a practical reinforcement of the value in exploring other forms of communication.

This leaves me excited to get back into our doctoral study and really experiment with other ways of communicating the broad voices, perspectives and agencies who are vital to the story of our research journey. After this internship experience the exploration of other forms of communication isn’t just one of theoretical consideration, I have now experienced the limitations of singular voices and styles in attempting to communicating in these cross-cultural spaces.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your internship experience?

I had always assumed that people did internships as a means to develop their own career progression. That hadn’t been a motivator for me at all, and honestly it had made me somewhat hesitant to initially sign up for the internship program. But the broader lessons and experiences that I gained through this internship have proven invaluable and will definitely shape how I continue along our collaborative research pathway. It is an experience that I am truly grateful for.

I would also like to add, that for anyone considering an internship, there is a lot to be gained in regard to research, career, and even personal growth. I think that it is worth keeping in mind that even if you are ‘just an intern’ you bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role. Industry leaders look for HDR interns because we hold specialist knowledge of specific topics. They are looking to draw upon our knowledges, skills, and experiences. Even if interns come in new and inexperienced to the industry space, we come in with a lot to offer. Whilst we are there to support an existing team achieve its predetermined objectives, it’s important to stand strong and confident on what you bring to the table and what can be expected of you.

Learn about how your organisation could benefit from hosting a graduate research intern working in the Social Sciences.