Dr Lindy Orthia
BSc (La Trobe) Hons (ANU), GCertHist (ANU), PhD (ANU)
Senior Lecturer in Science Communication
ANU College of Science
Research interests
Lindy's current research interests are:
- histories of science communication
- representations of science in popular fiction and public responses to them
- intersections of science and science communication with ideologies such as scientism, eurocentrism, sexism and heteronormativity.
Lindy's field has been science communication since 2005, but she trained as a biologist, hence the early biology publications.
See lindyorthia.com for full list of publications including non-peer-reviewed conference papers and scholarly opinion pieces.
Biography
Lindy is a teacher and researcher in science communication. She has worked at CPAS since 2007 and enjoys the intersection of science, politics and writing that science communication offers. She only realised science communication was the place she felt at home when she transferred from a PhD in plant systematics to a PhD in sci com in 2005, graduating in 2010. Realising much of her work took a historical approach, she undertook a Graduate Certificate in History from 2013-15.
Lindy completed a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences at La Trobe University then came to ANU to undertake honours in plant systematics, based at the Australian National Herbarium, CSIRO. Prior to discovering science, Lindy was an activist who spent much of her time researching, writing and agitating in regard to diverse political issues, working in student representative and community organisations.
Professional Awards and Honours
- 2014 recognised as Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy
- 2013 Winner: Vice-Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence
- 2013 Winner: ANU Commendation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning
- 2012 Winner: Colleges of Science Award for Teaching Excellence
- 2009 Winner: ANU ResearchFest Award for Excellence in Tutoring or Demonstrating
Researcher's projects
Lindy has two major continuing projects serving her research interests:
History of science communication in the longue durée
This project studies diverse aspects of science communication history, particularly in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries when western science was invented institutionally, ideologically and professionally, but also raising questions about longer term, cross-cultural conceptions of science communication history.
Ideologies of science in Doctor Who
This project involves ongoing analysis of ideologies of science within the long-running science fiction television series, Doctor Who (1963-89, 2005-present). It includes attention to politics, race, gender, environmentalism and scientism in the program, as well as research into Doctor Who fans' responses to its representations of science.
Lindy is currently editing a book Doctor Who and Science with Marcus Harmes from the University of Southern Queensland.
Available student projects
Lindy is keen to supervise any student projects in her areas of research interest. Contact her to discuss potential ideas.
Current student projects
Honours supervisor
- Stephanie David (2019-) Experts’ approaches to communicating about pill-testing in Australia
Master of Science Communication research project supervisor
- Zoë Tulip (2019-) Public responses to the deaths of anthropomorphised space robots
- Rachel Robbins (2019-) Collaborations between artists and scientists
Third year science communication research project supervisor
- Katelyn Tsipiras (2019-) Applying PES models of science communication to outreach programs with kids
Past student projects
PhD supervisory chair
- Cobi Calyx (graduated 2018) Deliberative theory versus practice in Australian public science engagement
- Jarrod Green (graduated 2017) Audience perspectives on scientific realism in fiction
- Rashel Li (graduated 2016) Audience views of science and scientists in ‘The Big Bang Theory’
- Tegan Donald (graduated 2016) What would a Scientifically Engaged Australia look like?
PhD associate supervisor
- Maria Taylor (graduated 2012) Discourses of climate change in Australia 1987-2001
Honours supervisor
- Imogen Brown (2017, co-supervisor) Depictions of scientists in children’s shows on Australian television
- Kate Reid (2016) The influence of fiction on scientists’ career choices
- David Knowles (2014, co-supervisor) Communicating the sociology of safety to the Australian pipeline industry
- Rudi Spennemann (2013) Public expectations of technology prototyped through fiction
- Martina Donkers (2011) Evaluating theatre for science engagement using the play ‘A Number’
Master of Science Communication research project supervisor
- Myfanwy Williams (2017) Mura Gadi – A pathway for searching: a historical analysis of Western attitudes towards Indigenous ecological knowledge in the Canberra region from first contact to present day
- Sarah Bradley (2017) Can we use personal stories of scientists to make science more interesting?
- Oliver Shearman (2017) Citizen science impact on participants’ feelings towards science
- Sunxuezi (Tara) Cheng (2016) Does science communication produce science crackpots?
- Mantian (Skye) Zhu (2016) The functions of scientific jargon in fiction film and television
- Don Gomez (2012-15) Public responses to science in ‘Breaking Bad’
- Denis Warne (2013-14) Communication in Indigenous-Western science knowledge exchange
- Chris McKay (2011) Environmental scientists’ and ecologists’ uses of Indigenous knowledge
Third year science communication research project supervisor
- Scarlett Harbin-Owens (2019) Australian women’s knowledge about hormonal contraception
- Clare Coman (2017) Audience responses to female scientists in Doctor Who
- Imogen Brown (2017) Scientist stereotypes in recent mathematician biopics
- Zoë Tulip (2016) Messages about fear and the environment in music videos
- Michaela Ripper (2015-16) What kinds of facts do people remember from reading fiction?
- Genevieve Crutchley (2015) Nuclear power: what does the world think?
- Carmel Foley (2015) Uses of ‘Jurassic Park’ in popular books about dinosaurs
- Kate Reid (2015) Discourses of evolution, race and anti-racism in the ‘X-Men’ films
- Chris Ingles (2014) Theorising the geological basis of Middle Earth in ‘Lord of the Rings’
- Aneeta Nathan (2013) HIV/AIDS in South Africa under President Mbeki and models of expertise
- Alana Pascoe (2012) Students’ decisions to study physics: the role of fiction, gender & more
- Olivia Swift (2012) Impact of the musical ‘Rent’ on HIV/AIDS activism and awareness
- Amy Dobos (2012) Public interpretations of photographs representing Alzheimer’s disease
- Stefan Nekvapil (2012) Expectations of aged care facilities by residents, staff and families/friends
- Minky Faber (2011-12) Women’s attitudes to menstruation and menstrual technologies
- Naomi Shadbolt (2011) Communicating endometriosis with teenage girls
Other coursework research project supervisor
- Hillary McArthur (3rdyear PhB, 2014) Modes of rhetoric in ‘NaturalNews’ articles about cancer
- Guy Leech (3rdyear PhB, 2014) Ideologies of science and environment in the game ‘Civilization 5’
- Mugdha Bokil (MChD, 2012-13) Influence of ‘Scrubs’ on medical students’ clinical practice
- Martina Donkers (3rdyear Summer Scholar, 2009-10) Public engagement with science in theatre
- Courtney Landers (1styear PhB, 2009) Nanosunscreen experts’ views of the public
- Xuerong (Shirley) Qin (2ndyear Research Intern, 2009) Nanosunscreen experts’ views of the media
- Five SCOM2003 students (2014) ‘World War Z’ as communication about immunisation
- Eight SCOM2003 students (2013) Gender and scientist role-modelling in ‘NCIS’
- Ten SCOM2003 students (2012)Using ‘House’ to identify public preferences about medical practitioners
- Six SCOM2003 students (2011) Viewing habit effects on responses to science in ‘Bones’
- Six SCOM2003 students (2010) Public responses to science in ‘The Simpsons’
Publications
- de Kauwe, V & Orthia, L 2018, 'Knowledge, power and the ethics illusion: Explaining diverse viewer interpretations of the politics in classic era Doctor Who', The Journal of Popular Television, vol. 60, no. 2, pp. 151-165pp.
- McKinnon, M & Orthia, LA 2017, 'Vaccination communication strategies: What have we learned, and lost, in 200 years?', Journal of Science Communication, vol. 16, no. 3, A08.
- Orthia, LA 2016, 'Democratizing science in the eighteenth century: Resonances between condorcet's Sketch (1795) and twenty-first century science communication', Journal of Science Communication, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 1-11.
- Orthia, LA 2016, ''Laudably Communicating to the World': Science in Sydney's Public Culture, 1788-1821', Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 1-12. doi: 10.1071/HR15018.
- Orthia, LA 2016, 'What's Wrong with Talking About the Scientific Revolution? Applying Lessons from History of Science to Applied Fields of Science Studies', Minerva: A review of science, learning and policy , 54(3), 353-373. doi:10.1007/s11024-016-9299-4.
- Orthia, LA & Morgain, R 2016, 'The Gendered Culture of Scientific Competence: A Study of Scientist Characters in Doctor Who 1963-2013', Sex Roles, 75(3), 79-94. doi: 10.1007/s11199-016-0597-y
- Li, R & Orthia, LA 2016, 'Communicating the Nature of Science Through The Big Bang Theory: Evidence from a Focus Group Study.', International Journal of Science Education Part B, 6(2), 115-136.
- Donkers, M & Orthia, LA 2016, 'Popular Theatre for Science Engagement: Audience Engagement with Human Cloning Following a Production of Caryl Churchill's A Number', International Journal of Science Education Part B, 6(1), 23-45, DOI:10.1080/21548455.2014.947349.
- Dobos, AR, Orthia, LA & Lamberts, R 2015, 'Does a picture tell a thousand words? The uses of digitally produced, multimodal pictures for communicating information about Alzheimer's disease', Public Understanding of Science, 24(6), 712-730, DOI:10.1177/0963662514533623.
- McKinnon, M, Orthia, LA, Grant, WJ & Lamberts, R 2014, 'Real-world assessment as an integral component of an undergraduate science communication program', International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, vol. 22, no. 5, pp. 1-13.
- Orthia, LA 2013, 'Negotiating Public Resistance to Engagement in Science and Technology', in John K Gilbert and Susan Stocklmayer (eds.), Communication and engagement with Science and Technology. Issues and Dilemmas, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, New York and Abingdon, pp. 74-90.
- Orthia, L (ed.) 2013, Doctor Who and Race, Intellect Ltd, Bristol and Chicago.
- Orthia, LA 2013, 'Savages, science, stagism and the naturalized ascendancy of the Not-We in Doctor Who', in Lindy Orthia (ed.), Doctor Who and Race, Intellect Ltd, United Kingdom and United States, pp. 271-287.
- Orthia, L 2013, 'Introduction', in Lindy Orthia (ed.), Doctor Who and Race, Intellect Ltd, Bristol and Chicago, pp. 3-11.
- Orthia, L 2013, 'Conclusion', in Lindy Orthia (ed.), Doctor Who and Race, Intellect Ltd, Bristol and Chicago, pp. 291-296.
- Li, R & Orthia, LA 2013, 'Are people inspired by The Big Bang Theory to find out more about Science? Results from focus group-based audience research', 4th Annual Popular Culture Association of Australia and New Zealand (PopCAANZ), Popular Culture Association of Australia and New Zealand (PopCAANZ), Sydney, pp. 248-258.
- Shadbolt, NA, Parker, MA & Orthia, LA 2013, 'Communicating endometriosis with young women to decrease diagnosis time', Health Promotion Journal of Australia, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 151-154.
- Orthia L.A., Dobos A.R., Guy T., Kan S.Z., Keys S.E., Nekvapil S. & Ngu D.H.Y. 2012, How do people think about the science they encounter in fiction? Science students investigate using The Simpsons. International Journal of Science Education Part B 2: 149-174.
- Orthia, L 2012, 'Science Fiction', in R. Gunstone (ed.), Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, Springer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg.
- Orthia, LA 2011, '"Paradise is a little too green for me": Discourses of environmental disaster in Doctor Who 1963-2010', Colloquy, vol. 21, pp. 56 - 80.
- Orthia, LA 2011, 'Antirationalist critique or fifth column of scientism? challenges from Doctor Who to the mad scientist trope', Public Understanding of Science, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 525-542.
- Orthia, LA 2010, '"Sociopathetic Abscess" or "Yawning Chasm"? The Absent Postcolonial Transition in Doctor Who', Journal of Commonwealth Literature, vol. 45, no. 2, pp. 207-225.
- Rifkin, W, Longnecker, N, Leach, J, Davis, L & Orthia, L 2010, 'Students Publishing in New Media: Eight Hypotheses - a House of Cards?', International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education (formerly CAL-laborate International), vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 43-54.
- Orthia, LA 2010, Enlightenment was the choice: Doctor Who and the Democratisation of Science, PhD Thesis, 19/04/2010.
- Rifkin, W, Longnecker, N, Leach, J, Davis, L & Orthia, L 2009, 'Motivate Students by having them publish in new media: An invitation to science lecturers to share and test', National UniServe Science Conference 2009, ed. Conference Program Committee, UniServe Science, Sydney Australia, pp. 105-111.
- Wilkins, CF, Orthia, LA & Crisp, MD 2009, 'A new species of Pultenaea (Mirbelieae: Fabaceae) from Kundip, Western Australia', Nuytsia, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 191-196.
- Orthia, LA 2006, 'Boundedness, Relationality and Evolution in Biological Systems', Annual Conference of the Society for Literature, Science and Art 2006 New York.
- Orthia, LA, Cook, LG & Crisp, MD 2005, 'Generic delimitation and phylogenetic uncertainty: an example from a group that has undergone an explosive radiation', Australian Systematic Botany, vol. 18, pp. 41-47.
- Orthia, LA, Crisp, MD, Cook, LG & de Kok, RPJ 2005, 'Bush peas: a rapid radiation with no support for monophyly of Pultenaea (Fabaceae: Mirbelieae)', Australian Systematic Botany, vol. 18, pp. 133-147.
- Orthia, LA, de Kok, RPJ & Crisp, MD 2005, 'A revision of Pultenaea (Fabaceae: Mirbelieae). 4. Species occurring in Western Australia', Australian Systematic Botany, vol. 18, pp. 149-206.
- Bickford, SA, Laffan, SW, de Kok, RPJ & Orthia, LA 2004, 'Spatial analysis of taxonomic and genetic patterns and their potential for understanding evolutionary histories', Journal of Biogeography, vol. 31, pp. 1715-1733.
- Orthia, LA, Garrick, RC & James, EA 2003, 'Genetic comparison between Victorian and Tasmanian populations of Prasophyllum correctum D.L. Jones (Orchidaceae) suggests separate species', Muelleria, vol. 18, pp. 79-87.
- Garrick, RC, Orthia, LA & James, EA 2003, 'Genetic comparison of populations of the rare Gorae Leek Orchid, Prasophyllum diversiflorum Nicholls (Orchidaceae)', Muelleria, vol. 18, pp. 89-97.
