CURRICULUM VITAE

Name: David Allen Kirby

Kirby, D.A. (2011) Lab Coats in Hollywood: Scientists Impact on Cinema, Cinema's Impact on Science and Technology (MIT Press, forthcoming January 2011)

Kirby, D.A. (2009) "The Future is Now: Hollywood Science Consultants, Diegetic Prototypes and the Role of Cinematic Narratives in Generating Real-World Technological Development," Social Studies of Science (forthcoming).

Kirby, D.A. (2008) "Hollywood Knowledge: Communication Between Scientific and Entertainment Cultures," in Communicating Science in Social Contexts, D. Cheng, et al. (eds.), (New York: Springer): 165-181.

Kirby, D.A. (2008) "Cinematic Science: The Public Communication of Science and Technology in Popular Film," B. Trench & M. Bucchi (eds.), Handbook of Public Communication of Science and Technology. (New York: Routledge): 67-94.

Kirby, D.A. (2007) "The Devil in Our DNA: A Brief History of Eugenic Themes in Science Fiction Films," Literature and Medicine, 26(1): 83-108.

Kirby, D.A. (2007) "L'Eugenetica al Cinema: Gattaca," Prometeo, 98: 14-23.

Kirby, D.A. (2007) "Hollywood's Take on Human Heredity," The Scientist, 9 February.

Kirby, D.A. and L.A. Gaither (2005) "Genetic Coming of Age: Genomics, Enhancement, and Identity in Film," New Literary History, 36(2): 263-282.

Kirby, D.A. (2004) "Extrapolating Race in Gattaca: Genetic Passing, Identity, the New Eugenics, and the Science of Race," Literature and Medicine, 23(1): 184-200. This article has also been included as a chapter in Difference and Identity, J.M. Metzl and S. Poirier (eds), (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005).

Kirby, D.A. (2003) "Scientists on the Set: Science Consultants and Communication of Science in Visual Fiction," Public Understanding of Science, 12(3): 261-278.

Kirby, D.A. (2003) "Science Consultants, Fictional Films and Scientific Practice," Social Studies of Science, 33(2): 231-268.

Kirby, D.A. (2003) "Science Advisors, Representation, and Hollywood Films," Molecular Interventions, 3(2): 54-60.

Kirby, D.A. (2003) "The Threat of Materialism in the Age of Genetics: DNA at the Drive-In," in Horror at the Drive-In: Essays in Popular Americana, G.D. Rhodes (ed), (Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Co.), pp. 241-258.

Kirby, D.A. (2002) "Are We Not Men?: The Horror of Eugenics in The Island of Dr. Moreau," Paradoxa, 17: 93-108.

Kirby, D.A. (2000) "The New Eugenics in Cinema: Genetic Determinism and Gene Therapy in GATTACA," Science Fiction Studies, 27(2): 193-215.

Stephan, W., L. Xing, D.A. Kirby, and J. Braverman (1998) "A Test of the Background Selection Hypothesis Based on Nucleotide Data from Drosophila ananassae," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 95: 5649-5654.

Kirby, D.A. and W. Stephan (1996) "Multi-Locus Selection and the Structure of Variation at the white Gene of Drosophila melanogaster," Genetics, 144: 635-645.

Kirby, D. A., S. V. Muse and W. Stephan (1995) "Maintenance of pre-mRNA Secondary Structure by Epistatic Selection," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 92: 9047-9051.

Kirby, D. A. and W. Stephan (1995) "Haplotype Test Reveals Departure From Neutrality in a Segment of the white Gene of Drosophila melanogaster," Genetics, 141: 1483-1490.

"Entertainment Experts: The Construction of Scientific Expertise in Hollywood," Society for the Social Studies of Science, Rotterdam, Netherlands, August 2008.

"Entertainment Experts: The Construction of Scientific Expertise in Hollywood," Science and the Public Conference, University of Manchester, June 2008.

"Screening Technology: Technical Advisors, Diegetic Prototypes, and the Cinematic Creation of the Future," Science and the Public Conference, Imperial College London, May 2007. Coverage of event by Material Beliefs.

"Entertainment Experts: The Construction of Scientific Expertise in Hollywood," British Society for the History of Science, July 2006.

"Big Screen Science: Scientists' Backstage Role in the Production of Hollywood Films," History of Science Society, November 2005.

"Envisioning Science: Scientists' Role in the Production of Visual Fiction," Science Fiction Study Day, University of Nottingham, August 2005.

"Seeing is Believing: Visualization and the Importance of 'Witnessing' in the Public Communication of Science," British Society for the History of Science, July 2005.

"So Real It's Scary: The Impact of Jurassic Park on Biotechnology and Genetic Research," Society for Literature and Science Conference, October 2004.

"Science Consultants, Fictional Films, and the War Games Effect," International Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference, June 2004.

"Knowledge Brokers: Communication Between Scientific and Entertainment Cultures," Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) Conference, October 2003.

"Jurassic Park and the Influence of Fictional Representation on Science," Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) Conference, November 2002.

"Science Consultants, Hollywood Films, and the Role of Fictional Representation in Scientific Practice," Society for Literature and Science Conference, October 2002.

"Creating Visions of the Future: The Historic Role of Science Consultants in Fictional Filmmaking," Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) Conference, November 2001.

"Are We Not Men?: The Horror of Eugenics in The Island of Dr. Moreau," National Popular Culture Association Conference, April 2000.

"Virtual Witnessing, Film Realism and the Public Understanding of Science," Opening lecture for National Science Foundation's Scinevision workshop bringing together science funding bodies, scientists and entertainment producers. Los Angeles, March 2008.

"Big Screen Science: Scientists' Backstage Role in the Production of Scientific 'Facts' in Hollywood Films," The Fact/Fiction Ratio in Science Writing, London School of Economics, March 2007. Workshop involving academics, popular science writers, and media producers.

"Art, Design, and the Public Understanding of Science," Royal College of Art, London, February 2007.

"Red Planet, Silver Screen: Representations of Mars in Cinema," Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, June 2006.

"Culture in the Age of Genetics: The Case of Genomic Enhancement," Conversations event with Professor John Harris, Cultural Theory Institute, University of Manchester, March 2006.

"Unsung Heroes: Flight Surgeons, High-Altitude Physiology and Military Science in Hollywood's Dive Bomber (1941)," History of High-Altitude Physiology Symposium, University of Manchester, December 2005.

"Scientists on the Set: Science Consultants and the Communication of Science Through Fictional Films," History of Science, Technology and Medicine Seminar Series, University of Manchester, October 2005.

"Scientists on the Set: Science Consultants and the Communication of Science Through Fictional Films," Science, Technology and the Public Seminar Series, London School of Economics/University College London, January 2005.

"The Devil in Our DNA: A Brief History of Eugenic Themes in Science Fiction Films," Duke University, November 2004. This talk was part of a National Institutes of Health funded conference on Genomics in Popular Culture and Art.

"Visual Culture Meets Scientific Culture," California Institute for the Arts, CA, March 2004.

"Science Consultants and the Production of Fictional Film," Perception and Representation of Science in Literature and Fiction Films, University of Bielefeld, Germany, June 2002.

"Genetic Determinism, GATTACA, and Science," Transylvania University, KY, March 2000.

"Science Fiction and You," British Association for the Advancement of Science, Science Festival. Liverpool, September 2008. Invited to take part in BA Science Festival panel in Liverpool along with prominent Science Fiction authors and academics.

"Culture on Screen: GATTACA," Royal Polytechnic Society, Falmouth, March 2008.

"Science. Scientists, and Hollywood Films," Café Scientifique, University of Sheffield, November 2007.

"Film and Science Event," Manchester, June 2007. I served as presenter for a special public showing of the film Sunshine which featured a Q&A with Dr Brian Cox, Scientific Consultant on the film.

"Culture on Screen: Genomic Enhancement and Newborn Screening in Gattaca," Northwest Genetics Knowledge Park, Manchester, October 2006.

"Science in the Movies," Junior Café Scientifique, Sale Elementary School, December 2005.

"Promises and Perils: Fictional Representation and the Construction of Nanotechnology's Cultural Meanings," Nanotechnologies, the Media and Public Engagement Symposium, The Watershed, Bristol, September 2005.

"Science in the News and on the Screen: Approaches to Media Literacy in Science Education," Plenary Speaker for the Nuffield Foundation's Teaching High School "Science for Public Understanding" workshop, Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, June 2005.

"Naked Science: Clash of Crises?" Facilitator of Panel Discussion, London Science Museum, Dana Center, April 2005.

"Naked Science: Is a Nano-Future Fact or Fantasy?" London Science Museum, Dana Center, March 2005.

20/20, "Truths and Myths about Weather in Hollywood Blockbusters," Interview subject on ABC television news program, April 2008.

Radio3scienza, Rome, Italy, "Science in Cinema," 27 September 2006.

The Guardian, "Putting the Science into Fiction," 18 April 2006.

Unilife, University of Manchester, "Research Spotlight," 16 January 2006.

IEEE Spectrum Magazine, "The Science of Pseudoscience," December 2005.

The Times (London), "Hollywood Disaster Movies Can be a Great Vehicle for Science," 30 June 2005, Editorial Commentary.

Manchester Evening News, "When Two Worlds Collide," 1 July 2005.

Blusci, "A Holywood Science Advisor," Issue 3, 2005.

Imperial College Radio, London, UK, "Science at Six," 4 March 2005.

Lincoln Journal Star, "A UNL researcher reacts to science in the movies," 24 February 2005.

WDR Radio, Hannover, Germany, "Sounds, Texts, Pictures," 23 June 2002.

USA Today, "Genetics at Play in Films; Sorry, Godzilla; Your Makeup is All Wrong," 18 June 2002.

The Why Files, "Science Movies: Always Science Fiction?," 11 Jan. 2002, <whyfiles.org/147sci_in_film/>.

2005    Worldwide Universities Network Development Grant, Part of a multi-university research team awarded $25,000 for a preliminary study entitled "Scientific Controversies Across Cultures: Establishing Formalized Collaborations for Comparative Research on Public Understanding of Science."

2004    Berlin Summer Academy 2004, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science. Selected to be a part of this two-week seminar and conference on the topic of "Science on Screen."

2003    Mellon Fellows Research Award, CTLW, Duke University, $1,000.

2001    NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Science and Technology Studies, $72,000 (2 years), "Science Consultants, Fictional Films and the Process of Science."

1999-2001    GEFAP Teaching Assistant Award, I received a General Education Faculty Assistance Program award for five semesters at American University.  This award pays for an undergraduate assistant to help with a non-majors course in the General Education program. The courses "Evolution and Society" and "Structure and Function of the Human Body" have both been awarded GEFAP assistants.

2000    SENCER 2000 Scholar, The class "Environmental Issues in Cinema" was selected as a model Science Education for New Civic Engagements and Responsibilities class through the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U).

1994    Howard Brinkley Summer RA Fellowship, University of Maryland.

9/06 - Present    PhD Research Advisor, University of Manchester. I am the advisor for Paul Marshall in CHSTM who is working on a history of the technological development of television and Emily Hankin who has a CASE award to study electricity and domestic technologies. In addition, I am on the supervisory committee of Mariano Paz from Screen Studies and Hannah Chalk from Museology.

1/05 - Present    MSc Research Advisor. I have supervised to completion seven MSc student projects at the University of Manchester as well as two MA students from the Centre for Screen Studies.

9/05 - Present    Undergraduate Research Advisor, University of Manchester. I am currently supervising Final Year Undergraduate Research Projects for three students in Biology. I have previously supervised eight Final Year Projects for students in Biology and Environmental Sciences. I have also advised eight medical students on their Student Selected Component (SSC) projects.

9/05 - present    Personal Advisor, FLS. I am the personal advisor for eight second year students and seven third year students. In this role I am the point of first contact for when these students have problems at the university.

9/03 - 5/04    Undergraduate Research Advisor, Duke University. Advised two first year undergraduates' honors projects.

8/97 - 7/01    Undergraduate Research Advisor, American University. Advised several undergraduate students on honors research projects, including both lab-based and science in the media topics.

8/97 - 7/01    Faculty Advisor, AU Inline Skating Club. I oversaw elections of club officials, kept track of club liability issues and assisted in designing skate trips.

8/96 - 7/98    Mentor, Premedical Program, American University. Duties included advising students during the year in which they are applying to health professional schools. I also wrote students' Premedical Evaluation Committee letters.

9/92 - 8/96    Undergraduate Research Advisor, University of Maryland. I advised undergraduate biology students, Howard Hughes fellows, and visiting international scholars on independent projects in the laboratory of Professor Wolfgang Stephan.

9/06 - 6/07    British Society for the History of Science Conference Organizing Committee. The 2007 conference was held at the University of Manchester and was the 50th anniversary of the event. I organized and took part in a keynote film screening/lecture involving Dr. Brian Cox and his work on the film Sunshine (2007). I worked with the British Association for the Advancement of Science on venue, funding and publicity issues associated with this keynote event.

4/07 - present    External Examiner, Imperial College London. I am serving as External Examiner for the MSc Science Communication Group at Imperial College London. External Examiner is a consultancy position specific to the British system. It involves monitoring degree programs and coursework at other universities to insure quality across academic institutions. I examine exam scripts, completed exams, essays, and dissertation projects for marking criteria and for marking consistency. I meet with academic staff and university officials to provide feedback for quality control.

4/07 - present    Manchester Science Festival. I have worked with the festival's director to develop science-based film festivals.

3/07 - present    Advisory Board, Public Engagement Group, FLS. I serve on the advisory board of FLS's Public Engagement Group.

3/04 - present    Admissions Interviewer, FLS. I am involved in interviewing potential Biology students for the Faculty of Life Sciences.

9/06 - present    PhD Examiner, CHSTM. I have served on the internal examination committee of several PhD candidates.

08/06 - 09/08    Curriculum Development Consultant. I worked with the Nuffield Curriculum Centre on the development of new curriculum specializations for High School age students in Science & Society that became available in September 2008.

8/05 - 9/06    Exams Officer, CHSTM. Duties included monitoring exam approval process, keeping colleagues abreast of exam deadlines and protocols, and maintaining data about qualifications and candidates, and meeting with the Exams Officers Committee of the Faculty of Life Sciences.

7/05 - 8/06    MSC Overview Committee, CHSTM. Revision and upgrading of MSc program at CHSTM including the rewriting of core MSc courses, revision of course requirements, and the restructuring of degree options to include Science Communication.

7/98 - 7/01    Premedical Programs Coordinator, American University. Duties included helping students to develop a four year course curriculum, developing seminars and career forums, providing information about volunteer opportunities, developing workshops on interviews and essay-writing, maintenance and transmission of student files, writing Premedical Advisor letter for all students and counseling undergraduate and graduate students on professional careers in the health sciences.

8/97 - 7/01    Chair, Undergraduate Studies Committee, Biology Department, American University. My duties included curriculum reform and recruitment of majors. I helped increase the number of confirmed Biology majors from 20 to 50 over the span of three years.