The BIG IDEAS Book Club

Step into the compelling intersection of science, ethics, and family history in this thought-provoking discussion on the ethical dilemmas of genetic genealogy. As DNA testing becomes an increasingly popular tool for uncovering ancestry and building family trees, it also raises important questions about privacy, identity, and data ownership.

Join us for a dynamic panel conversation that explores the far-reaching implications of genetic genealogy - from the impact on personal and familial relationships to the broader societal questions surrounding consent and the use of genetic information.

Whether you're an avid genealogist, a curious consumer of DNA tests, or simply interested in the ethical challenges of modern science, this event will challenge your perspectives and offer insights into the complexities of this rapidly evolving field.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to reflect, question, and engage with the ethics behind the science that’s reshaping how we understand family.

Join journalist Claire Aird, historian Dr Tanya Evans, and genealogical educator Vanessa Cassin as they delve into the ethical dilemmas and responsibilities surrounding genetic genealogy.

🗣️ SPEAKERS
Claire Aird is a Walkley Award-winning journalist with a background in crime, cybersecurity and privacy reporting. She presents The Risky Bulletin, a cybersecurity news podcast, and is the co-producer of the award-winning documentary, Vanished, an investigation into Australia’s shameful rates of missing First Nations women. Working across audio and video, Claire has been an ABC news reporter and host, the Executive Producer of Hack on triple j, as well as Supervising Producer for The Feed on SBS. Claire believes there is no more intimate information than our DNA, and is concerned about the risks associated with collecting and storing vast amounts of personal information in an age of data-driven decision-making. She has spent four years following this story.

Tanya Evans is a Professor of History in the School of Humanities at Macquarie University. A prize-winning author who makes regular appearances in the media, she has published nationally and internationally on family history, the history of the family and public history. Her third book Fractured Families: Life on the Margins in Colonial New South Wales (New South 2015) was a history of Australia’s oldest surviving charity, The Benevolent Society, written in collaboration with family historians and the charity. Tanya’s research is targeted at disrupting people’s assumptions about family life in the past. She is committed to the democratisation of historical knowledge. Her most recent book Family History, Historical Consciousness and Citizenship: A new social history was published by Bloomsbury in early 2022.

Vanessa Cassin is a learning and development professional with extensive experience in providing training and assessment in the trustee industry, both as an in-house trainer for the NSW Trustee & Guardian and as an assessor for Western Sydney University’s The College Registered Training Organisation. Vanessa is also a genealogist, who has been researching her own family history for over 20 years. Her current role as Education Manager at the Society of Australian Genealogists has enabled Vanessa to combine her expertise in designing training programs for adult learners with her passion for family history and genealogy.

👩🏾‍🔬 MODERATOR
Adria Castellucci is a library and museum professional who has worked at the University of Sydney and the Australian Museum. She currently leads the Family History team in Reader Services at the State Library of NSW. Adria is passionate about connecting the people of New South Wales with resources that enrich their family history journeys.

‘Mine’ is one of the first words babies learn, and by the time we grow up, the idea of ownership seems natural and obvious, whether we are buying a cup of coffee or a house. But what actually makes something yours or mine, and why do we believe it? If a drone flies into your backyard, do you own the airspace above—and have the right to shoot it down? When tech companies train AI models on the work of authors and artists without permission, is that innovation or theft? From indigenous land claims to disputes over genetic data, TikTok dance routines, or even a name like Kylie, our modern world is full of conflicts over who gets to claim what. These aren’t just legal squabbles—they're clashes between different stories we tell about who gets to own what. And behind those stories lie deeper questions about power, fairness, and who gets to decide the rules. Let’s meet up to explore these ideas.

Book: Mine! How the Hidden Rules of Ownership Control Our Lives (2021) by Michael Heller and James Salzman

In Mine!, legal scholar Michael Heller and environmental law expert James Salzman reveal the surprisingly flexible and contested nature of ownership. Far from being fixed or natural, ownership is a social construct built on just six basic stories—like “first come, first served” or “possession is nine-tenths of the law”—that shape how people, companies, and governments claim and defend what they think is theirs. Whether it's your neighbour’s tree hanging over your fence, passengers battling over seat recline versus leg room space, or Big Tech tracking your clicks, all these stories quietly shape the world around us.

By unpacking the hidden rules of ownership, Heller and Salzman help us see how ownership is not a predetermined fact but a socially constructed choice that opens up possibilities for reimagining ownership structures to better serve societal goals.

As usual, you’re strongly encouraged to read the book. Unfortunately, if you are not an eBook or audiobook person, this book may be harder to get. So order early from your favorite store or library if you want a paper copy. The authors themselves have also done some excellent short videos on each chapter and are linked below. Additional resources including a presentation and podcasts are also available that you may wish to explore.

So, join us for a drink (and optional meal) at 6.30pm Monday, 1st September on the 2nd floor (i.e. up two flights of stairs) at the Keg & Brew Hotel, Surrey Hills. The Keg & Brew is close to Central Station and the Light Rail.

We hope to see you there!

p.s. Please adjust your RSVP if you have indicated that you will come but are no longer able to do so. This is courteous to people if there is a waitlist.

p.p.s. Please adjust your email notifications settings (particularly the ‘Event updates from organizers’ in the Big Ideas Book Club settings). This is useful for giving any final details or late changes to the event.

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These are just optional links to consider, particularly if you have trouble accessing the book. Feel free to pass on other useful links in the discussion section.

Audio-visual

• An excellent collection of 2–3-minute videos on the key idea of each chapter, by the authors themselves: