Beyond integration: Building Earth-Sky Knowledge Infrastructure for Co-discovery in Space and Sustainability

Space is not empty or dark. There is no such thing as ‘Space nullius’. Space itself is alive. Like all living things it needs care, respect and balance. Without embracing this perspective, space exploration cannot be truly sustainable.

The Host nation Plenary will explore how co-discovery in the space sector through structured collaboration between Western science and Indigenous knowledge can unlock new insights into space and sustainability. Drawing parallels with multi-messenger astronomy - where combining detection methods enriches cosmic understanding - the session will illustrate how methodological integration might reveal patterns in earth-sky relationships not accessible through single approaches alone.

Key considerations will include developing institutional mechanisms, creating professional pathways for knowledge integration, and establishing validation protocols across alternate ways of knowing. The session will explore our potential to pioneer systematic approaches in this domain, framing knowledge integration as a form of R&D that could expand analytical capabilities for addressing complex space sustainability challenges.

The Australian Space Agency commissioned five Indigenous Australian strategic advisors to develop the Host Nation Plenary and is deeply grateful for their significant contributions. The Agency also wishes to thank the New Zealand Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency for supporting the participation of international Indigenous speakers