
About me
Hi. I'm a scientist interested in genetics and technology and how they affect our lives.
I am a Research Fellow in the Centre for Policy Futures at The University of Queensland - in Brisbane, Australia - with broad expertise in genetics including conservation genetics, ancient DNA, DNA forensics, and science communication.
I'm excited to be a recipient of the 2018 ABC Top 5 Scientists media residency award. (Link is here).
I'm interested in the ways that science and technology impact society, and how society influences the trajectory of science.
I’m particularly interested in privacy issues surrounding genomic data and other emerging technology. My research spans both science and humanities to look at some of the emerging ethical, legal and social issues being created by the advances in genetic technology, in order to inform policy debate on these important issues.
What are the new challenges being presented along with the advances in science and technology?
How can genetic data be integrated to society in a way that benefits everyone equitably?
Public engagement
I believe that effective communication is key to promoting a better understanding of science.
The 2018 Top 5 Scientist media residency award recipients. Link here
Our articles on genomics, technology, and society have been republished in over 60 popular media outlets.
(Click images for links to full articles)
*Our DNA facial prediction article (above) sparked quite a lot of discussion - and the article featured on a few radio shows and podcasts.
Our article was also part of an interesting discussion on The Future, This Week. Listen here (it starts at minute 24.30)
How does society impact science?
This is an interesting and important question. Our recent scientific paper describes an episode in history where politics, strong personalities, and confirmation bias impacted the trajectory of science and the study of evolution. Our paper has generated a fair bit of discussion in the articles below.
(Click images for links to full articles)
I have spoken about our articles in a few recent radio and television interviews - and created a piece for ABC Radio National's The Health Report.
(Click images for links to audio)
This is a report that I created during my residency at the ABC. Listen here
Spoke with TripleJ HACK. Listen here
Interview on The Nature of Things with Dr Matt Wright. Radio 2SER 107.3 (Sydney, Australia). December 14, 2017. Listen here
Topic: Who should have access to our digital genetic information?
Interview on The Daily with Sean Britten. Radio 2SER 107.3 (Sydney, Australia). January 26, 2018.
Topic: What is a DNA marketplace with cryptocurrency?
Interview on ABC Radio National's Life Matters with Amanda Smith. February 6, 2018 (Australia-wide broadcast). Listen here
Topic: The benefits and potential downsides of direct-to-consumer DNA tests.
Interview on Evenings with Kelly Higgins-Devine. ABC Radio Brisbane. (Queensland, Australia). January 23, 2018.
Topic: How does direct-to-consumer DNA testing work and what are the risks?
Interview on Statewide Drive with Fiona Wyllie. ABC Radio New South Wales. (NSW, Australia). February 6, 2018.
Topic: Direct-to-consumer DNA testing - what are the privacy issues?

Today Show, Channel 9. June 9 2018.

ABC News August 13 2018,
Commercial DNA.You leave your DNA everywhere you go. But the laws governing what happens to it is a long way behind the technology. Dr Caitlin Curtis is a genetic scientist from UQ, and was part of our 2018 Top 5 Scientists Media Residency Program.
Posted by ABC Science on Wednesday, August 15, 2018
I've provided commentary on issues relating to genetics and genomics for national and international news outlets.
(Click images for links)
Commentary for Reuters (LONDON). August 3 2018 - Link here.
Commentary for ABC News - October 13 2018 - Link here
Commentary for ABC News.- June 7 2018 - Link here
I recently spoke at a Parliamentary Briefing about some of the privacy, legal and social issues raised by genomics at Queensland Parliament House.
Parliamentary Briefing: Understanding genomics in health care; Premiers' Hall, Queensland Parliament House. August 21 2018. Link here.
I recently gave a public lecture about our work:
Dr Caitlin Curtis. BrisScience Public Lecture. March 5, 2018. SouthBank, Brisbane, Australia.
Link here
Last year saw an incredible surge in demand for direct to consumer genetic tests - but it raises a lot of questions... - What exactly is a genetic test? - How is your privacy protected when you take a genetic test? - Do some companies make money selling your genetic data to third parties?
In September 2018, I participated in Data Privacy: the Public Debate, hosted by the UQ Debating Society and UQ Engineering and Technology.
Data Privacy: The Public Debate. presented by UQ Debating Society and UQ Engineering and Technology. September 19 2018.
Advanced Engineering Building; University of Queensland. Link here
In October 2018 we made a submission to the Australian Human Rights and Technology Project Consultation - by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Link to that project here.
I’m happy to be involved in discussions of this important issue - and in October 2018 I will also be attending the round table to discuss the new Australian Government Data Sharing and Release Legislation - in relation to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet issues paper — information here.
Here are some of my recent public speaking events:
‘Knock back a pint of science!’ The University of Queensland’s UQ News article about our participation in Pint of Science is here:
Australasian Science Education Research Association conference 2018. Link here
Gold Coast, June 26-29 2018.

Pint of Science Festival. Invited speaker. Link here. Catchment Brewery, Brisbane.
May 16 2018. 7:00 - 9:30pm.
University of Queensland, School of Education. Invited guest seminar:
Public awareness of genomics and opportunities for education. Link here
October 12 2018. 11:15 - 12:30pm
University of Queensland. Guest lecturer: Responsible data science course (DATA7002). Link here
Schools of Law, Information Technology & Electrical Engineering, Historical & Philosophical Inquiry, & Mathematics & Physics School. .
September 13 2018.
publications
My peer reviewed publication list
You can find more details at the following links:
Protecting trust in medical genetics in the new era of forensics
C Curtis, J Hereward, M Mangelsdorf, K Hussey, J Devereux
Genetics in Medicine
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41436-018-0396-7
DNA fingerprinting in zoology: past, present, future
GK Chambers, C Curtis, CD Millar, L Huynen, DM Lambert
Investigative genetics 5 (1), 3
The Sacred Ibis debate: the first test of evolution
C Curtis, CD Millar, DM Lambert.
PLoS Biology 16(9): e2005558.
Radiocarbon dating of Sacred Ibis mummies from ancient Egypt
S Wasef, R Wood, S El Merghani, S Ikram, C Curtis, B Holland, ...
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 4, 355-361
DD Chapman, CA Simpfendorfer, TR Wiley, GR Poulakis, C Curtis, ...
Journal of Heredity 102 (6), 643-652
Pleistocene population expansions of Antarctic seals
C Curtis, BS Stewart, SA Karl
Molecular Ecology 18 (10), 2112-2121
Sexing pinnipeds with ZFX and ZFY loci
C Curtis, BS Stewart, SA Karl
Journal of Heredity 98 (3), 280-285
Genetically effective population sizes of Antarctic seals estimated from nuclear genes
C Curtis, BS Stewart, SA Karl
Conservation genetics 12 (6), 1435-1446
CY XU, S TANG, M FATEMI, CL GROSS, MICH JULIEN, C CURTIS, ...
EcoSphere 6 (9), 1-21
S Seyoum, MD Tringali, RR Bielefeld, JC Feddersen, RJ Benedict, ...
Conservation Genetics Resources 4 (3), 681-687
GR Poulakis, PW Stevens, AA Timmers, CJ Stafford, C Curtis, MD Tringali, ...
http://myfwc.com/media/200473/2010_Poulakisetal_F2616_sawfish_final_report.pdf
Population genetics of Antarctic seals
C Curtis
contact info
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