Green Composites, 2nd Edition

9

Nanotechnology and the Dreamtime knowledge of spinifex grass

P. Memmott, D. Martin and N. Amiralian,    University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Abstract

This paper is premised on several Australian Aboriginal myths (or sacred histories) from the Georgina River Basin region of Central Australia that concern the Triodia grasses known locally as spinifex (or aywerte). These sacred histories provide an epistemological foundation to the regional intellectual property over traditional spinifex technologies formerly utilized for architectural, material and medicinal functions. Aboriginal uses of spinifex were once widespread but declined in the latter 20th century, and ethno-scientific knowledge has severely diminished. The dominant ...