Science, Media and the Law: Lessons from the Kathleen Folbigg Case (In Summary)

While ultimately successful, the voice of scientific expertise was difficult to establish in the emotionally-charged circumstances of the Kathleen Folbigg case; reopening the inquiry with fresh scientific perspectives relied on the discretion of the Attorney General of New South Wales.

Public opinion is overwhelmingly shaped by the Australian media, and sustaining the attention of the political and legal system required a sustained campaign by a team of friends, philanthropists, scientists and legal professionals championing the cause.

The key members of “Team Folbigg” here relate the barriers they experienced to having complex genetic science considered as robust legal evidence in an Australian judicial system, and present the case for change.

*Speakers:*
*Dr Peter Yates* AM FTSE FAICD
_Director of Linfox Australia and Mutual Trust P/L_
_Chair of AIA Australia, The Australian Science Media Centre, The Royal Children's Hospital Foundation, The Shared Value Project, The NHMRC Centre for Personalised Immunology and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology_

Ms *Anna-Maria Arabia*
_CEO at the Australian Academy of Science_
_Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy_

*Panellists:*
Ms *Tracy Chapman*
_Lifelong friend and advocate of Kathleen Folbigg_

Professor *David Balding* FAA
_Statistical Geneticist, The University of Melbourne_

*MC:*
Ms *Tegan Taylor*
_Science Journalist, The Australian Broadcasting Corporation_

Presented by the Royal Society of Victoria in partnership with the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering ( @ATSEOrgAu ) and the Australian Academy of Science ( @ScienceAcademyAu ) for National Science Week in 2024, filmed with the support of the Inspiring Victoria program.