Forensic and Crime Science News 2012

Initiation of a collaborative project with Forensic Podiatrist Professor Wes Vernon OBE, April 2012.
 
A national project has begun at Staffordshire University's Forensic and Crime Science Department (FaCS) in collaboration with Prof Wes Vernon OBE who is the head of Podiatry Services and Research Lead of the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and a practicing forensic podiatrist.  This project is focussed upon the development of a  barefoot impression database that will aid forensic podiatrists in the interpretation of marks left at crime scenes.  Dr Claire Gwinnett and Miss Laura Walton from FaCS and Prof Nachiappan Chockalingam from the Faculty of Health are the project leads at Staffordshire University and are working closely with Prof Vernon and a PhD researcher Sarah Reel in the generation of data for this exciting new resource.

International Collaboration with the Netherlands in Forensic Science Education
 
Dr Claire Gwinnett, a senior lecturer in the Forensic and Crime Science department (FaCS) at Staffordshire University and Kay Michiels LLM, a lecturer from the forensic science department at Avan Hogeschool in the Netherlands are developing a new Forensic Academic Network (FAN) to aid collaboration between European Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and forensic providers.  This network will aim to improve collaboration in forensic science research across European HEIs and encourage the dissemination of excellent teaching practice and staff/student exchanges.  In March 2012, Dr Gwinnett and Miss Michiels travelled to the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands to give a presentation on the forensic science and law perspectives of international crime.
 

During March 2012, Laura Walton, Jodie Dunnett and Dean Northfield have volunteered and been selected to assist with ‘The Expert Zone’ as part of the ‘Global Classroom’ hosted by Nord Anglia Education, a group of International Schools. This Global Community is aimed at secondary school students across the world to help them develop their inquiry, creative and communication skills by talking to experts across a range of subject fields via online discussions. This flyer (PDF, file size: 928.55KB) provides more details about the range of activities taking place during March’s Global Community program.

Forensic Science International: Paper Accepted for Publication

1st March 2012.  Research undertaken by Rachel Bolton-King during her PhD studies in Forensic Firearms Identification and Imaging has recently been accepted for publication in the Journal Forensic Science International.

She is first author of the paper entitled ‘Numerical Classification of Curvilinear Structures for the Identification of Pistol Barrels’, which is co-authored by academics at Nottingham Trent University (Dr. Martin Bencsik, Prof. Paul Evans and Prof. Wayne Cranton), Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia (Prof. Clifton Smith) and Cranfield University (Dr. Jonathon Painter and Prof. Derek Allsop).

This work outlines the use of a bespoke principal component (PCA) based algorithm and the novel use of curvilinear rifling transition regions between barrel lands and grooves to identify firearm manufacturers. More information will be provided when a date for publication is announced.

Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners Journal :

Feb 2012 : Rachel Bolton-King has had a paper published in the latest issue of the AFTE (Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners) Journal. The article is entitled ‘Manufacturing of SIG Sauer 9 x 19 mm Pistols’ and can be read in Volume 44 (2012), Number 1, Winter Issue, pages 19 thru 28. The research details the manufacture of SIG Sauer firearms and the ability to differentiate between their pistol barrels rifled using electrochemical and hammer forging processes.

Dean Northfield Quoted in New Scientist Publication

Dean was interviewed following his review of a research paper written by Oytun Akman and colleagues at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands for the magazine New Scientist. On 31st January Dean gave his opinion on the use of their new AR Googles technology and its potential use in the field of crime scene investigation. To read the article and Dean’s comment please see http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21328495.700-ar-goggles-make-crime-scene-investigation-a-desk-job.html

Caroline's research is generating a lot of interest following her recent presentations in the Netherlands.  On Monday 23rd January 2012 Caroline will be broadcast in a programme entitled ‘The Hidden Graves of the Holocaust’ on BBC Radio 4 at 20:00 GMT. There are also associated news items on BBC News Today at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16657363 and on Staffordshire University news pages.

Netherlands Presentation: An Update

Caroline Sturdy Colls successfully presented her research paper detailing her work in Treblinka at the conference of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance, and Research (ITF) at the Peace Palace in The Hague. She attended the workshop entitled ‘Terrorscapes: Transnational memory of totalitarian terror and genocide in post-war Europe project’, which is a project funded by NWO, NIAS, Paradox and the Memorial Centre at Westerbork (all in The Netherlands) and met with fellows who have been co-opted as advisors to the Westerbork Archaeological Research Project; Westerbork is a former Nazi concentration camp in The Netherlands. Caroline is now also a member of the Cultural Landscape and Urban Environment (CLUE) project entitled ‘Buried War Pasts’, which is another project funded by NWO Odysee.

Further details of the projects Caroline is involved with can be found here:
http://home.medewerker.uva.nl/r.vanderlaarse/bestanden/Heritage%20and%20Memory%20of%20War%201.pdf

Forensic and Crime Science staff receive funding for HE STEM projects

Members of the Forensic and Crime Science team have been awarded funding from the National HE STEM Programme to run three separate projects during 2012 and 2013 concerned with enhancing the undergraduate curriculum and students’ employability skills.

Dean Northfield’s project is concerned with ‘Recording Lectures & Creating Video Resources’. This funding will allow the department to purchase imaging equipment and editing software to enable students and staff to develop the undergraduate curriculum. The staff will also be given training in the application of new hardware and software to create video resources that can be used in lectures, practical sessions and other learning environments.
 
Jodie Dunnett’s project will be focussed on the concept of ‘Virtual Experiments’, which will involve creating both online and offline virtual environments. These will enable students to learn and practice how to correctly use laboratory equipment as well as undertake specific experiments outside the laboratory environment.

Rachel Bolton-King and Laura Walton’s joint-led project is entitled ‘Stimulating and Showcasing Student-led, Employer Focussed, Extra-Curricular Activity in STEM’. This activity will involve managing and establishing a Staffordshire University Forensic Science Society, which will respectively comprise of two student-led committees dedicated to writing and publishing a student newsletter from September 2012 and organising an internal student research conference to be held in 2013.

For more information on the National HE STEM Programme and the specific project descriptors, please visit www.hestem.ac.uk/PracticeTransferAdopters.

Rachel Bolton-King to present at the FSSoc Firearms Conference

Rachel Bolton-King has been accepted to present a research paper at the forthcoming Forensic Science Society Firearms Conference on 8th June 2012 at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. The title of her oral presentation will be ‘What’s Inside Your Firearm?’ and will detail preliminary research into the use of x-ray imaging to examine the internal structure and contents of corroded firearms.

January 2012: Dr. Andy Platt has just had two chapters accepted in a book entitled "The Rare Earths: Fundamentals and Applications”. The book is to be published by Wiley and will form part of their Encyclopedia of Inorganic and Bioinorganic Chemistry. Andy’s two chapter titles are to be “Variable Valency” and “Group Trends” and a news update will be provided as and when this book is published.

Also Dr. Andy Platt’s co-authored journal paper will be published on 9th February 2012, although can already be read in its entirety on-line within Polyhedron Volume 33 Issue 1 pages 341 – 346 (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277538711007285).

On Tuesday 31st January Dr. Andy Platt gave a guest lecture at Bangor University to their Chemistry Department regarding his current research, which was entitled 'Lanthanide Nitrate Complexes with Trialkylphosphine Oxides'.

20th February, Dr. Andy Platt has had the following paper accepted for publication with colleagues from Southampton University and The Open University in the journal Inorganic Chemistry:

Authors: Allen Bowden, Simon J. Coles Mateusz B. Pitak and Andrew W. G. Platt
Title: Complexes of lanthanide nitrates with tri tert butylphosphine oxide
An update will follow when the paper is published.

Forensic and Crime Science Staff travelled to the Home Office to present Research and Collaborative successes on 19th Dec. 2011.

Staff from Forensic and Crime Science travelled to London to the Home Office to take part in the Education and Industry Liaison Forum organised by the Forensic Science Society. Professor Bernard Silverman, the author of the recent Government report on Research and Development in Forensic Science and the Minister for Crime and Security also attended the conference.

The meeting offered the opportunity to showcase the excellent research and collaborations undertaken within Forensic and Crime Sciences at Staffs. Uni.

Click here to see the posters presented (PDF, file size: 2.34MB) .

The Forensic and Crime Science Department are delighted to be involved with The Fingerprint Society's International Fingerprint Week.  International Fingerprint Week will be launched at the Society annual conference, which will be held on 13th to 15th April 2012 at the Hayes Conference Centre Derbyshire. Between the 16th and 20th April 2012 there will be a week of activities where Society members and organisations from all over the world will engage locally with Schools, Colleges, Universities, Public Bodies, private organizations and members of the public to celebrate the Science of Fingerprints.

The intention is to;

• Demonstrate the role of fingerprints

• Dispel the myths associated with the science

• Positively market fingerprints

• Engage with the public

• Provide an Educational Programme for Schools, Colleges and Universities

• Raise moral within the Fingerprint Profession

The individual events will be publicised via a social media campaign, through direct contact with our members and other interested parties and on the Fingerprint Society website at www.fpsociety.org.uk.

This year we have received a significant investment in equipment to further advance our work in both Forensic Analytical Chemistry and in Criminalistics.
Please click here to see photos of all items. (DOC, file size: 266KB)

The equipment purchased for Forensic Analytical Chemistry and Criminalistics includes the following instruments:

• Thermo Fisher iCE3400 Graphite Furnace AAS.  Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. This instrument is used for the analysis of metal solutions. It can analyse for up to twelve metals sequentially and is sensitive to the parts per billion level

• Thermo Fisher Trace GC Ultra gas chromatograph.  Packed Column Gas Chromatograph. This instrument is fitted with both Flame Ionisation Detector (FID) and Thermal Conductivity Detector (TCD). The FID is a very sensitive  detector for the analysis of volatile hydrocarbon compounds. The TCD is a general purpose detector and can be used for the analysis of gases and even water content.

• Thermo Fisher Lumina Spectrofluorimeter.  This instrument is used to measure both the emission and excitation spectra of materials which fluoresce. It is capable of both synchronous scanning and 3-D mapping of fluorescence spectra. Kinetic and temperature control methods are also available.

• Thermo Fisher Evolution 201 UV/Visible Spectrophotometer.  This instrument may be used for both wavelength scanning and single wavelength analysis. It can also be used for single beam or dual beam work. Kinetic and temperature control methods are also available.

• Leeds Forensic Systems Macro Comparator Microscope.  The macro comparator microscope is use to examine and compare relatively large items such as bullets and cartridge cases.

• Leeds Forensic Systems Micro Comparator Microscope.  The micro comparator microscope is used to examine and compare small items such as fibres and paint flakes.

In addition to the equipment listed above we have also acquired additional equipment such as a new Chromatography Data Station using Clarity software to update an existing HPLC system and a Thermo Fisher VP100 Vapour Generator for use with difficult samples on our existing Atomic Absorption instrumentation.

Joint research from visiting research fellow Nikolaos Kalantzis, lecturer Sarah Fieldhouse and senior lecturer Andy Platt, examining the sequence of fingermarks and handwriting or printing on porous paper has been published on the new issue of Forensic Science International.

The paper is called "Determination of the sequence of latent fingermarks and writing or printing on white office paper" and can be found on Forensic Science International 206 (2011) 155–160.

The research for fingermark and handwriting or printing sequence is ongoing, focusing now on glossy paper surfaces.

Staffordshire University student’s success at Bournemouth University on the MSc Forensic and Biological Anthropology: Crime Scene and International Investigations – one finishes as the next one joins!  Karen Redmile has just successfully completed the course at Bournemouth and hot on her trail of success is Kelly Eggleton.

“Forensic Archaeology involves the use of archaeological principles and techniques for the location, recovery, and interpretation of evidence for past events within the constraints of the criminal justice system. Forensic archaeology utilises both field and laboratory skills in the investigation of serious crime, missing persons cases, human rights and mass disasters which ranges from searching for and excavating clandestine graves to the international investigation of crimes against humanity.”

As part of their degree studies both Karen (B.Sc. Biomedical Science) and Kelly (B.Sc. Forensic Biology) completed final year undergraduate projects at Staffordshire University with Professor John Cassella and decided that they wished to make the specialist discipline - Forensic Archaeology their career choice.

We wish both Karen and Kelly success and we will follow their careers with interest.

An idea generated by Staffordshire University has been taken up in a collaborative relationship with SciChem Ltd, a regional company based in Wolverhampton. Staffordshire University’s Department of Forensic and Crime Science have an ongoing contribution to this novel Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project through a scientific and pedagogic input, whilst the company utilise their development and sales/distribution expertise.

There is a national need to increase engagement with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. This KTP partnership enables schools and colleges to support the development of key STEM skills for students of all ages. These products and educational materials are designed to make science fun, showing relevance to real life situations and demonstrate that studying science subjects can enhance employment potential.

SciChem have now developed a ‘New Product Development (NPD) Department’ as part of a  KTP with the with the Department of Forensic and Crime Science. They have the scientific and educational competence to design products prepared for individual course curricula together with specific training opportunities for technicians and teachers.

Our Forensic and Crime Science department has forged a unique partnership with "ThinkForensic.co.uk" to deliver a series of workshops aimed at giving students from Staffordshire schools an insight into the fascinating world of forensic science. Students are invited to the university for a day of science and intrigue as they work their way through a “who dunnit” scenario.

Following an initial briefing it’s a visit to the university’s crime scene house where, guided by Think Forensic’s crime scene experts, the students become “superslueths” exploring the scene of the crime for themselves. Evidence such as blood spatter, entomology, fingerprints, hair and fibre etc. is gathered and taken back to the university laboratories where, following analysis, the students reach their own scientific conclusion.
Workshops are suitable for all ages but are particularly useful as a STEM activity, to enhance B Tech courses and Applied Science Curriculum or as Aim higher Programmes.

In collaboration with the Forensic Science Department at Staffordshire University, Think Forensic will provide:-

• Interactive workshops specifically tailored to any age and ability
  

• Seminars and presentations for full year groups
  

• “Who dunnits” and crime scene scenarios
  

• A web site containing ready prepared worksheets for teachers with busy schedules and students who want to develop their own skills
  

• Forensic science and crime scene resource kits suitable for KS3, KS4 and post 16
  

• Online point of advice and assistance
  
  

Further information can be obtained from Think Forensic