Wondrous, Deadly Skies

Krystal De Napoli is a Gomeroi author, astrophysicist and science communicator devoted to the advocacy of Indigenous knowledges and equity in STEM. She is host of the weekly radio program Indigenuity, where she holds conversations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge holders, giving their ingenuity a platform. As an educator she has worked with tertiary and secondary institutions to create courses on Aboriginal science, most notably working to create and deliver Monash University’s inaugural Indigenous science course, SCI2030: Indigenous Science. She has also curated a national public database on Indigenous science for the Australian Council of Deans of Science. In 2022, Krystal co-authored Astronomy: Sky Country (Thames & Hudson). Desirai Saunders is a proud Gunggari woman currently located in Yugger/Juggera Country in northern Brisbane, Australia. Desirai predominantly creates strong, First Nations character illustrations using Procreate. Her characters are developed to (mostly) represent First Nations women who find their strength through connection to culture and how that looks while navigating modern society. The inspiration behind these illustrations is heavily influenced by her own emotional experiences, laying the groundwork to begin advocating for more positive views on mental health within communities.