A fulbright U.S. global scholar program

The Pleiades Experience in Polynesia, Mesoamerica, and the Andes

The Sun, Moon, planets, and stars have accompanied sky watchers over millennia. The Pleiades star cluster is tied to worldviews, astronomy, calendaring, weather prediction, and agriculture.

For indigenous people in Polynesia, Mesoamerica, and the Andes, the Pleiades cluster continues to be a source of knowledge, both culturally and scientifically. Due to native language loss and globalization, the knowledge is eroding at a fast pace.

This project will conduct collaborative research with indigenous elders, young adults, and academics, as well as with other scholars and students in New Zealand, Guatemala, and Peru. Results will be shared broadly and to benefit the host communities.