The ‘Shared Observatory’ initiative is cultivating shared interdisciplinary research through collaborative projects between the disciplines of art and astronomy at ANU and the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Indonesia. Mobilising the ANU School of Art and Design’s Memorandum of Agreement with the ITB Fakultas Seni Rupa dan Desain (FSRD), the initiative contributes to cross-cultural knowledge exchange between arts and science disciplines in Australia and Indonesia.

Shared Observatory builds on previous collaborations to advance partnerships between the SOAD and the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics (RSAA) at ANU, and the FSRD and Bosscha Observatory at ITB.

Our focus is on creating an exchange of expertise and cultural understanding of celestial observations that underpin traditional knowledge systems, many of which have been disrupted by light pollution and climate change, and are communicated through artistic expression.

Participants and supporters of the Shared Observatory initiative are:

• Dr Anna Madeleine Raupach, Lecturer, SOAD, ANU
• Dr Willy Himawan, Assistant Professor, FSRD, ITB
• Dr Brad Tucker Research Fellow, Mt Stromlo Observatory, ANU
• Peter Swanton, RSAA, ANU
• Professor Matthew Colless, Director, RSAA, ANU
• Associate Professor Premana W. Premadi, Director, Bosscha Observatory, ITB
• Yatny Yulianti, Program Manager of Education and Public Outreach, Bosscha Observatory, ITB
• Dr Chaitanya Sambrani, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Art History and Art Theory, ANU
• Rod Bamford, Senior Lecturer, SOAD, ANU
• Dr Andryanto Rikrik Kusmara, Dean, FSRD, ITB

Previous events:

• ITB-ANU Joint Seminar ‘Art, Science & Technology; A New Creative Field’