Sediment cores

Sediment Cores by Professor Michael-Shawn Fletcher has found a permanent home within Science Gallery Melbourne. First commissioned and part of Emu Sky, an exhibition curated by Barkandji woman Zena Cumpston, they are now displayed on the walls of the STEM Centre of Excellence. These cores extracted from deep within the earth have stories hidden within their layers.

These earth cores form the foundation for the work undertaken by Wiradjuri geographer and academic Associate Professor Michael-Shawn Fletcher. Preserved through compression over centuries, these cores speak through the organic matter and charcoal trapped within them, making what Dr Fletcher describes as ‘a sedimentary storybook’.

In this interactive exhibit, learn about First Nations fire management practices, discover the lifecycle of pollen, and listen to the artist describe Sediment Cores plus more.

  • Melbourne Associate Professor Michael-Shawn Fletcher is a descendant of the Wiradjuri and a geographer interested in the long-term interactions between humans, climate, disturbance, vegetation and landscapes in the southern hemisphere. Michael’s research group focuses on understanding how Southern Hemisphere landscapes evolve at scales ranging from tens to millions of years using microfossils stored in wetland sediments, along with tree-rings to understand long-term forest dynamics. Michael’s recent research has a particular emphasis on how Indigenous burning has shaped the Australian landscape and how Indigenous knowledge needs to be meaningfully incorporated into landscape management to tackle many of the environmental challenges we face today. He is Director of Research Capability at the Indigenous Knowledge Institute, a cross-faculty research institute at the University of Melbourne that aims to advance research and education in Indigenous knowledge systems. Michael is also Associate Dean (Indigenous) in the Faculty of Science at the University of Melbourne, and a panel member of the Australian Research Council College of Experts.

  • Delivered in partnership with the University of Melbourne and the Victorian Government, the STEM Centre of Excellence at Science Gallery Melbourne investigates the collision of art and science. Embracing scientific and artistic inquiry alike, our programs, designed in collaboration with and for young people, foster development of transferable 21st century skills and explore design thinking programs through a creative lens. Students will also experience First Nations STEM programs, connect with industry and learn alongside a tertiary environment.