Nick Ruddell

Dr. Nick Ruddell is a researcher in the School of Indigenous Australian Studies at Charles Sturt University, residing and working on Wiradyuri Country. He holds a PhD in Science Education and specializes in bridging Western and Indigenous knowledge systems through culturally responsive frameworks. His work emphasizes intergenerational educational assets, community collaboration, and Indigenous science pedagogy.

• PhD in Science Education, Charles Sturt University (2019)
• Specialization in Indigenous knowledge systems and science education
• Affiliated with Indigenous Australian Studies and STEM Education Research Group
• Active researcher with recent outputs from 2019–2024

Dr. Ruddell's research focuses on cultural responsivity, Indigenous science education, and the integration of Kaupapa Māori and Wiradyuri methodologies such as Yindyamarra Winhanganha. He explores how Indigenous knowledge systems—particularly from First Nations communities like Wiradyuri, Ngunawal, Gundungarra, and Birpai—can inform and transform science education. His work promotes respectful knowledge exchange, decolonizing pedagogies, and the co-production of educational frameworks that honor both Western and Indigenous epistemologies. He emphasizes place-based learning, with Country as a teacher, and investigates traditional technologies like the Brewarrina fish traps and Budj Bim eel systems as models of Indigenous engineering and sustainability.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend in decolonizing science curricula, advocating for cultural responsivity in STEM education, and exploring Indigenous automation and environmental knowledge. These works span interdisciplinary fields including education, Indigenous studies, environmental science, and engineering, often highlighting the importance of collaborative, community-led research.

Scientific Awards and Grants:

• Australian Postgraduate Award (2014, Successful)
• Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) $76,176 (2014, Successful)
• ARC Linkage Grant (2021 & 2022, Unsuccessful)
• Australian Research Data Commons Summer School (2024, Successful)

Dr. Ruddell is actively involved in academic mentoring and supervision, currently serving as Principal Supervisor for a thesis on Wiradyuri Language and Healing (2023–2028). He has participated in numerous conferences and seminars, including the Australasian Science Education Association Conference and First Nations Research Retreat. His grant applications reflect a commitment to interdisciplinary, community-engaged research on climate change, museums, and diverse knowledge practices. He also contributes through peer review for publishers like Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

He is a key member of the STEM Education Research Group and the Children's Voices Centre, where he collaborates with researchers from Charles Sturt University, La Trobe University, Western Sydney University, and the NSW Department of Education. His work supports Nation rebuilding, IP management, and policy development grounded in Indigenous sovereignty and cultural integrity.