Ep. 14 Scotia Mullin's Journey from Forensic Anthropology to Public Health
Join Katharine Pope as she explores the fascinating world of forensic anthropology with Scotia Mullin (they/them), a biological anthropologist who works with the University of Melbourne. Scotia and Kat have an enlightening conversation about how Australia handles medicolegal death investigations and human remains, a process that proves to be vastly different from the United States. Scotia also shares his captivating journey from Wyoming to Australia and his role in the cultural heritage audit at the University of Melbourne.
Scotia offers a unique insight into how the COVID-19 pandemic changed his plans for a PhD, and his introduction to forensic anthropology leading to a Master's of Public Health. Listen in as Kat and Scotia discuss Scotia’s work with the Royal Dental Hospital and the University of Melbourne on the identification and repatriation of Aboriginal ancestral remains. They explore the impact of anthropology on disenfranchised minority communities and the importance of incorporating cultural context into the development of biological profiles.
Lastly, Scotia shares advice for aspiring anthropologists, emphasizing the importance of having a broader scope of skills, exploring different opportunities, and learning to live with imposter syndrome. They also touch on the importance of having a sense of belonging and support from a friend group or community, and open lines of communication about mental health issues. Tune in for this informative and engaging discussion with Scotia Mullin!
Topics Covered
Forensic Anthropology and Death Investigation
Career Paths in Anthropology and Public Health
Anthropology and the Importance of Representation
Advice for Aspiring Anthropologists
Academic and Career Success in Forensic Anthropology
Support and Communication in Community
About Scotia Mullin
Scotia Mullin is an Australian biological/forensic anthropologist currently undertaking his PhD in Forensic Medicine and Anthropology. His work predominantly focuses on the anthropology of violence and trauma particularly in marginalised communities.
Scotia has bachelor's degrees in both anthropology and geography and a Master of Public Health (MPH).
Currently Scotia's day to day consist of identification and repatriation works of Australian Ancestral Remains, traumatology, and research. He is also an on call consultant for Kenyon International in the fields of anthropology, archaeology and public health.
In his downtime Scotia enjoys spending time with his family and friends, hiking, reading, sleeping, and spending quality time with his dogs.
Scotia is always happy to have a chat with others in the field in person or via zoom as long as a cup of tea is involved.
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