Maria Ahmad

I am a PhD student studying cognitive neuroscience at University College London. Having lived in the Marshall Islands for six years, I learned about the ancient traditional technique of navigating across the Pacific known as 'wave-piloting'. What fascinated me most was the ability of these navigators to cross one of the most dramatic and at times, treacherous environments on Earth without using any navigational tools. This inspired me to explore the cognitive processes underlying this incredible skill. Through my research, I aim to highlight the significance of Indigenous knowledge in deepening our understanding of human cognition.