Associate Professor Darren Curnoe

Associate Professor Darren Curnoe is an archaeologist, palaeoanthropologist, cultural heritage specialist and writer. He has worked as an academic (1997-2020) and senior heritage advisor/senior archaeologist in the consulting sector (2022-2025). Prof. Curnoe has also undertaken research and supervised PhD projects in the areas of primate ecology and rehabilitation in South Africa. He has published many popular science articles about archaeology and human origins as well as making short films, as an extension of his former career in TV news (1986-1992). 

Prof. Curnoe has held various leadership roles in research and teaching and is passionate about research strategy, research development and capacity building. Since May 2025, he has worked as the research development officer for the School of Arts at Western Sydney University as well as holding an honorary A/Prof. role in this school and one in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science at the University of NSW. 

He is an active researcher with projects in Malaysia and China, and a reviewer of grants (e.g. Leakey Foundation) and peer reviewed journal articles for various outlets (e.g. Science, Nature Communications, Journal of Human Evolution) including sitting on the board of several journals. 

His research interests include:
1) the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic/early Neolithic of Southeast Asia and East Asia, 
2) the Pleistocene peopling of Australia, 
3) Archaeological site formation esp. in tropical caves,
4) Archaeological science esp. geochronology, ancient DNA and palaeoproteomic analysis, and
5) Archaeological cultural heritage particularly working with Indigenous communities.