Inspiring Women featuring Alexia Curmi

April 19, 2023 Donna

Meet Alexia Curmi

Forensic Investigation Expert
Biology and Chemistry Teacher
Traveller
Foodie
Singer
TEDx Speaker
Cat Mom of four

The Interview

Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?

My name is Alexia Curmi. I am 39 years old. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from UoM and a Master’s Degree in Forensic investigation from Teesside University, UK. I teach biology and chemistry, I am a court-appointed forensic expert, I am a foodie and enjoy travelling, I sing, I have a fascination with sharks, and I am a mother to four cats.

How did you first become interested in forensics, and what inspired you to pursue it as a career?

I liked patterns. I always did – mostly words though because I’m rubbish at rotating objects in my head. And people have patterns, you just have to figure out how to find them. Crime scenes work on patterns too – so I just enjoy finding the base of that pattern and working through it.

Can you walk us through the forensic structures that are currently in place in Malta?

Right now, there’s very little structure – especially in this political climate. But basically, options are either to enter the police force, and work your way up to forensic work, or get qualified and ask to be placed on the magistrate registry of court-appointed experts. It’s more costly and harder but you maintain more autonomy that way.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your work as a forensic expert, and how do you overcome them?

Mostly, corruption, bribery and being a woman…fun times.

I basically ask myself – how well do I want to sleep at night? – and go with whatever makes me feel calmer when I have to make a difficult choice.

Being a woman- well you just have to suck that one up and work twice as hard to get thought of as half as good in a lot of cases. But the problem isn’t just this job – it’s this country.

What type of cases do you encounter often?

I only do murder, attempted murder and rape… so… all of them

What do you see as the future of forensics in Malta, and how do you think it will continue to evolve in the coming years?

I think that we need to make a lot of changes in this area- mainly move it away from government purview and have it as its own entity. It cannot remain as it is as we are not able to separate and work properly.

How do you stay up-to-date with the latest developments and technologies in forensics, and what resources do you rely on for learning?

I go to a lot of online conferences, and in-person ones as well. And I’m a member of certain societies and journals that keep us up to date on the latest techniques.

What do you think are some of the most common misconceptions people have about forensics, and how do you try to dispel them?

That it’s fun. Or glamorous. It is certainly none of those. It’s messy, smelly and largely disgusting. And that’s what I try to tell everyone. And the pay isn’t too great. But I love it.

What advice would you give to someone who is interested in pursuing a career in forensics?

Keep pushing. Never take no for an answer and make sure you know 5 times more than the people asking you the questions. You need to have a look at what you’d rather be doing.

There’s loads of options in forensic work – it could be field based or lab based. So, make a list of what you want out of your life:

Do you like being woken up in the middle of the night?

Do you get bored doing the same thing every day?

Is there an aspect of the forensic procedure that interests you more and why?

Could you do that day in day out for years?

Bottom line is you need science- so start with that – when you do a bit more research on what you’d rather be doing then you can focus your skills onto what you’d rather do.

In Malta, are there many women working in this field? Or is it a male-dominated environment?

There were none when I started. There are a few more now. But yes, it is mainly men and that can be a good thing and a bad thing- it gives you a much tougher skin, but it also lends itself to a more biased view of humanity.

How do you balance your work as a forensic expert and a teacher, and what strategies do you use to manage your time effectively?

Well luckily for me most crimes I worked on are not very sociable time-wise – so I got a lot of 3 Am phone calls or early hours. It doesn’t clash much with teaching, except for the hours of sleep lol. I am very good at compartmentalising things in my brain. So, it’s more of an issue with lack of sleep than anything else. I make up for it the next day usually.

As a biology and chemistry teacher, what do you think are the most important skills and knowledge that students need to succeed in these fields?

I think it’s critical thinking. Thinking about what you don’t know and how that fits into what you already do know or think you know.

As a teacher, how do you keep your students engaged and motivated in the classroom, especially when teaching complex topics like biology and chemistry?

I find myself very entertaining lol. But I put a lot of the onus on them. It’s their learning. So they need to direct it. I mean, I have a syllabus to cover but we get it done no problem. We talk about a lot of the concepts. It’s not just me talking – they have to try things out, fail and try again too. It tends to keep them engaged.

How do you approach teaching students who may not be naturally inclined towards science, and how do you help them develop an interest in these subjects?

Mostly it’s not that they aren’t inclined. It’s that they haven’t been taught a way to understand that fits their brain. As I said, people have patterns, I tend to teach in patterns, especially chemistry; and link one thing to another. It’s a lot easier to get a concept when you can compare and relate it to something tangible.

Could you tell us about a project or initiative that you’re particularly proud of either in your work or personal life?

I’m my own project haha. I’m quite proud of me. I’ve overcome quite a lot in the last 10 years- and now I hope to keep challenging myself with new things. Right now, I’m thinking about doing something a little mad- but may be worth it in the long run. We shall see.

Could you tell us about your TEDx talk experience and what message you hoped to convey to the audience?

It was nerve-wracking. And sooooo fun. I was freaking out. I wanted to join my two loves. Sharks and forensic work. It was amazing to give a talk about something I enjoyed to other people who wanted to listen. I nerded out a hell of a lot.

What advice would you give to someone who is interested in giving a TEDx talk, and how did you prepare for your own talk?

Well, when they first asked, I thought it was a joke, so I ignored it. I mean, seriously who wants me to give a talk? About what? Who’s going to give a damn what I say? And then about 3 weeks after the first email I got a phone call. And they were like “We sent you an email regarding a TEDx talk”. I was like you were serious????? LOL

So then I had a much shorter timeline to prepare. But it took me about a week to think of what I wanted to say. And then we had a meeting. And I told them I want to do a talk on sharks and the forensic system. They were a little sceptical. But they let me do it. So, I wrote it.

I basically wanted to find the best features of sharks and translate them into a forensic system. So, I thought. Wrote lists (I love lists). And then fleshed it out. And it took on a life on its own. And I was lucky that I had some experience teaching – so I kind of treated it like my classroom… and did what I did in class. Cracked jokes, and asked questions… it seemed to go down well.

You can watch Alexia's TEDx talks below

What do you do to relax and unwind outside of work?

Cook mostly, and spend time with my cats. I have 4… they’re my emotional support animals. I don’t think I would be able to do anything without them. I love cooking for people. It gives me a huge sense of satisfaction to see people happy when they’re eating.

Can you tell our readers a bit about your fascination with sharks? How did it start and what particularly fascinates you?

It started when I was about 3 years old…. Listen to my ted talk HAHAHA… I used to wake up early, and my parents were still asleep so I used to watch videos my dad had on BBC Wildlife stuff. And there was one of sharks. I watched it once and I was hooked. They’re perfect. Beautiful, well-adapted, silent, strong. I wish I was like that sometimes.

What are some of your favourite places you’ve travelled to, and why did they stand out to you?

So far, Mexico, Australia and Italy. All for the same reasons – Food mostly, but also music, culture, ideas and people.

Can you mention a memorable experience you’ve had while travelling?

Mostly the food and the sharks. My most recent is Mexico – I went diving with Whale sharks for a day. It was so quiet and they were so majestic.

What are some of your favourite dishes to cook?

OOOO fun… everything… but I’m very much a meat human. So, anything roasted, grilled or BBQ-ed hehe. And Carbonara, that’s a labour of love and attention.