Dr Rebecca Coates

Dr Rebecca Coates is a Sociologist. Her research focus is on the intersection of science, society and technology, with this dynamic explored through the lens of responsible innovation. Her current research interests include applied ethics, particularly in relation to emerging and new technologies, and the public perceptions of responsible innovation.

Dr Coates co-leads a multi-disciplinary team on a project about the quantum readiness across Australian industry sectors, funded by CSIRO's Responsible Innovation Future Science Platform (RI FSP), the Quantum Technologies FSP and Data61. She also part of the research team on the longitudinal study on the Public Perceptions of Responsible Innovation.

Dr Coates is an alumna of the University of Queensland. Her PhD, co-supervised from within the Institute for Social Science Research and the School of Social Science, contributed to understandings of social stratification in Australian society, with an analysis of the socioeconomic aspirations of high-school students in Queensland. Prior to joining CSIRO, Rebecca taught tertiary quantitative and qualitative social science research methods, and conducted research broadly related to social inequality in Australia, including homelessness research and Indigenous housing research.