Lynne Kelly (science writer)
Lynne Kelly AM | |
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Born | 1951 (age 72–73) |
Nationality | Australian |
Alma mater | |
Occupations |
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Employer | La Trobe University |
Known for | |
Website | lynnekelly |
Lynne Kelly
She has been interviewed on different podcasts and radio programs about her work on primary orality, popular science and skepticism.[1][3][4]
Work and education
Kelly holds a Bachelor of Engineering from
Kelly's writing also includes educational resources for courses on mathematics, thinking skills and information technology, as well as a novel. Kelly has also published books for popular science audiences on spiders, crocodiles and skepticism.[1][2]
She has previously worked as a teacher and she currently works as an Honorary Research Fellow at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia.[1][3][4][6][7]
Research on primary orality and memory
A fundamental part of Kelly's research delves into the transmission of scientific and technological knowledge among small-scale oral cultures such as Aboriginal Australians, the Pueblo people and some African cultures.[8][9]
Kelly's research indicates that oral cultures possess a large body of scientific knowledge on
According to Kelly's theory, the manner of accessing stored information would depend on whether the culture was mobile or more settled. Hunter-gatherer societies would depend on portable mnemonic devices and techniques that would allow them to use the landscape as a mnemonic tool, such as the method of loci. Kelly has observed similar techniques within the modern Australian Aborigines, who use features on the landscape as visual cues to retrieve information. On the other hand, societies that were less mobile but not completely settled would create local replications of the landscape to access information, such as circles of timber or stone, sequences of mounds and other prehistoric built environments.[7][9][11]
Kelly's research also indicates that both
Lynne Kelly has spoken against the portrayal of
In 2015, Kelly published a book under the title Knowledge and Power in Prehistoric Societies, which incorporates the research from her
The Memory Code
In June 2016, Kelly's doctoral research was published for a general readership under the title The Memory Code. This work comprises the results of Kelly's research, spanning over almost a decade, into mnemonics of Indigenous peoples from around the globe.[15]
Kelly's work on
The book created much interest from the media and the public even before its release.[16] Since the publication of The Memory Code, Kelly has been invited to numerous radio shows and public lectures to discuss her work on indigenous knowledge, mnemonics and the application of memory techniques and devices in everyday life. [17][18]
Kelly has been known for trying the same techniques she has researched to memorize long lists of categories and events, including succeeding to memorize all the countries of the world by population order; memorizing a historical chronology of prehistoric and historic events, and a guide of the 408 birds of the state of
Kelly has received the support and orientation of Australian Aboriginal advisors for her research, particularly from her colleague Nungarrayi, who is Warlpiri.[15] More recently, Kelly's 2021 collaboration with Aboriginal co-author, Margo Neale, enhanced her knowledge on the complexity of Australian Songlines, the basis of many of her ideas on Indigenous knowledge systems.[19]
Theory on the purpose of Stonehenge
According to Kelly's theory,
In Knowledge and Power in Prehistoric Societies, Kelly suggests that knowledge may have been originally preserved by the nomadic Britons by using the landscape as a mnemonic tool, in a similar fashion to the memorization technique known as Method of loci.[9][10] As the Britons started to settle, they would have needed to modify the way they stored their knowledge as they were not moving as much anymore, so they would have built Stonehenge in an attempt to replicate the landscape locally, allowing them to memorize and store knowledge. The circles and stones or timber posts would have represented the landscape, and each stone would have been associated with a segment of their knowledge system.[10]
Kelly's research also indicates that once the Neolithic Britons' society settled, the ceremonial spaces would have become more restricted and the rituals controlled by the elites.[8][9][10]
Kelly's theory on the purpose of Stonehenge would also explain certain physical features such as circles or lines of posts and ditches at other
Kelly's theory is sustained by the record of archaeological changes and level of activity registered at Stonehenge. Those changes would be consistent with the
Her theory is also consistent with her previous research on mnemonic techniques used by ancient and modern cultures and the use of temples, myths and legends to pass on and remember knowledge. As the chance of survival for oral cultures is strongly dependent on their ability to store and retrieve information, the great efforts and the participation of the entire community on the construction of a site as large as Stonehenge are explained and justifiable.[8][15]
Works on popular science
Kelly is also known for her contribution to
In 2009, Kelly published her book Spiders: Learning to Love Them, where she explores the biology and human perceptions around spiders, as well as offers a guide for spider identification. It is also a recount of the author's personal journey from disliking spiders to being fascinated by them.[22] The book won "Best book in the category of Natural History" in the 2009 Whitley Awards by the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales.[23][24]
Work in skepticism
Kelly has also been an active promoter of skepticism and educating the public on the importance of critical thinking and science. She has claimed to use magicians' tricks to advance skepticism.[3] She was a founding member of the Australian Skeptics,[3] and has spoken at their national convention in 2003, 2012 and 2015.[25][26][27] In 2004, she was awarded the Skeptic of the Year title by the organization.[28]
Kelly's interest in skepticism derives in part from her concern about how fake
Cold reading and tauromancy
Kelly has also investigated
Kelly has claimed that the effect of a successful reading is so powerful that even though she has revealed in advance to the customers that she is in fact not a real psychic, they refuse to believe that the information and personal details were obtained by mere cold reading techniques.[3][29] On some occasions, Kelly has had to stop the reading as the client has become extremely emotional, with Kelly offering counselling instead, in which she has been trained. She has also said that intelligent people are easier to read as they have a larger pool of references to use to respond to her cues.[3]
In 2003 she wrote a novel for young adults titled Avenging Janie[30] which incorporated cold reading and a cult into the plot.[31] The book was well received. Writer John Marsden said of it, "It's good to be reminded that there are still new plots out there – and writers for young people brave enough to take them on."[32] Cold reading expert Ian Rowland said, "it really is an amazing piece of work."[33]
The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal
Kelly has also written a book on the
Awards and recognition
- In the 2022 Australia Day Honours, Kelly was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for "significant service to science education as a writer and researcher".[36]
- Songlines was shortlisted for the 2021 Victorian Premier's Prize for Nonfiction[37]
- She was awarded an Arts Victoria literary grant for 2015, to develop Ancient Memory Spaces, "a literary non-fiction manuscript demonstrating the memory techniques used by non-literate societies to store and share knowledge of their culture".[38]
- Kelly's book Spiders: learning to love them was awarded a Certificate of Commendation in the "Natural History" class of the 2009 Whitley Awards from the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales.[24]
- In 2004, she was named the Skeptic of the Year by the Australian Skeptics.[28]
Bibliography
- Songlines: The Power and Promise (2020) co-authored with Margo Neale, Thames & Hudson ISBN 978-1760761189
- Memory Craft: Improve Your Memory Using the Most Powerful Methods From Around the World (2019) Allen & Unwin ISBN 978-1760633059
- The Memory Code: The Traditional Aboriginal Memory Technique That Unlocks the Secrets of Stonehenge, Easter Island and Ancient Monuments the World Over (2016) Allen & Unwin ISBN 978-1760291327for Australia and New Zealand in July 2016, and February 2017 by Atlantic Books in the UK and Pegasus Books in the US.
- Knowledge and Power in Prehistoric Societies: Orality, Memory, and the Transmission of Culture (2015) Cambridge University Press OCLC 910935575
- When knowledge was power (2012, La Trobe University, PhD thesis)
- Spiderwoman (2013) Hampress OCLC 854852622
- Spiders: learning to love them (2009) Allen & Unwin OCLC 865288969
- Crocodile: evolution's greatest survivor (2006) Allen & Unwin OCLC 123416997
- The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal (2004) Allen & Unwin OCLC 62761268
- Avenging Janie. Lothian Books. 2003. OCLC 156031904.
- Words and Images (2002) (co-author) Wizard Books ISBN 1876367989
- Motion: Simple Concepts in Physics (2001 ) Wizard Books ISBN 1875739351
- Maths Wizard (2000) Wizard Books ISBN 1876367350
- Sound and Light (2000) Wizard Books ISBN 1875739696
- Mathematics by Computer: Iteration (1996), Wizard Books ISBN 1875739548
- Challenging Minds: Thinking Skills and Enrichment Activities(1996) Prufrock Press ISBN 978-1882664207
- Lasers (1996) The Wright Group
- Nuclear Technology (1991) (co-author), STAV Publishing ISBN 0949044180
- Practical Computing (1987) (with co-author Jacaranda-Wiley) ISBN 0701622423
References
- ^ a b c d e "Current Research". Lynne Kelly. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- ^ a b "Lynne Kelly Writer". Lynne Kelly Writer. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- ^ D.J. Grothe (16 January 2012). "Lynne Kelly: The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal" (Podcast). Amherst: Center for Inquiry. Event occurs at 35.12. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Dr Lynne Kelly: Honorary Fellow, La Trobe University". The University of Melbourne. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
- ^ a b c "Mystery of Stonehenge Solved?". LaTrobe Bulletin. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- ^ "Indigenous memory technology used to explain Stonehenge". ABC Central Victoria. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
- ^ a b c Rowbotham, Jill (10 January 2010). "From spiders to Stonehenge, old secrets unravelled". The Australian. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Stonehenge – Prehistory's Wikipedia?". LaTrobe Bulletin. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g Romensky, Larissa (10 August 2015). "Indigenous memory technology used to explain Stonehenge". ABC Central Victoria. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "Why did the Neolithic Britons build Stonehenge?". Rewind Radio. Melbourne. 3 July 2015. Event occurs at 08:48. ABC. 744 ABC.
- ^ a b Kelly, Lynne (30 June 2015). "Knowledge and Power in Prehistoric Societies". fifteen eightyfour. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
- ^ "12 June 2015 – Species, Stonehenge and Indigenous Knowledge". Connecting Country. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
- hdl:1959.9/506721.
- ^ "Knowledge and Power in Prehistoric Societies". archaeology & arts. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- ^ a b c d "The Indigenous memory code". All in the mind. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "Ancient cultures, new ideas about memory". La Trobe University. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
- ^ "Once we were Google". Life Matters. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
- ^ "Lynne Kelly: The Memory Code". Radio New Zealand. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- OCLC 1203934300.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ "Crocodile – Lynne Kelly". Lynne Kelly Writer. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
- ^ Kelly, Lynne. "Crocodile". Lynne Kelly. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
- ^ Derkley, Karin (24 February 2007), "Tree change traps", The Age, retrieved 10 April 2016
- ^ Kelly, Lynne. "Spiders – Lynne Kelly". Lynne Kelly Author. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
- ^ a b "Whitley Awards- Commendation Awards". Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
- ^ "National Skeptics Convention 2003" (PDF). The Millenium Project. 22 August 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ Richard Saunders (16 December 2012). "The Skeptic Zone #217 – 16.Dec.2012" (Podcast). The Skeptic Zone. Event occurs at 0:15:16. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ "31st Australian Skeptics National Convention Program" (PDF). Brisbane Skeptics. 18 October 2015. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ a b "Merit Awards". Australian Skeptics Inc. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
- ^ "Cold Reading". Lynne Kelly. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
- ^ Kelly 2003.
- ^ "Avenging Janie". Lynne Kelly web site. Archived from the original on 4 April 2004. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ "The gift of words", The Age, 13 December 2003, retrieved 10 April 2016
- ^ Rowland, Ian, "Items To Buy: Avenging Janie by Lynne Kelly", Ian Rowland web site, archived from the original on 6 February 2004, retrieved 10 April 2016
- ^ Romeo, Dom (4 July 2004), "Nah, that's bull; but this is true… (ABC Radio Interview)", Stand & Deliver, retrieved 10 April 2016,
I didn't write this book for skeptics.
- ^ "The Skeptics' Guide to the Paranormal". Lynne Kelly. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- ^ "Australia Day Honours List" (PDF). The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ^ "Victorian Premier's Literary Awards 2021 shortlists announced". Books+Publishing. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ "Latest VicArts Grants recipients announced". creative.vic.gov.au. Creative Victoria. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2016.