Ray P. Norris

Ray Norris is an Australian/English astrophysicist who has spent his life using the world’s largest radio telescopes trying to figure out how the Universe evolved from the Big Bang to the present day, including mysteries such as the Black Holes at the centres of galaxies and the enigmatic “Odd Radio Circles” around distant galaxies. He has published over 500 professional articles and has frequently appeared on radio and TV.

For the past 20 years he has also studied the astronomy of Indigenous Australians and is fascinated by their many intellectual achievements as they sought to understand their Universe. The more he learns about Aboriginal astronomy, the more he realises that it will take another lifetime to truly appreciate it.

In 2005, he wrote his first novel, "Graven Images".

His first book on Aboriginal Astronomy, "Emu Dreaming", written with his wife Cilla, was based on their travels amongst the Yolngu nation in Arnhem Land, in Northern Australia.

His most recent book, "Big Sky: when the Emu left the Earth", was written with well-known Aboriginal writer Bruce Pascoe. The book is a dialogue between Ray and Bruce, adding Ray’s scientific perspective to Bruce’s deep cultural insights. It also describes Ray’s journey to understand some of the depth and complexity of the culture of Aboriginal Australians.