Forensic Science News Spring 2009

Forensic Science has been joined by Allan Jamieson as a visiting Professor of Forensic Science. Professor Jamieson’s heads the Forensic Institute in Glasgow.

The Forensic Institute provides specialist forensic scientific and medical expertise and have been involved in some of the country’s highest profile cases including the Omagh Bomb trial, several successful ‘shaken baby’ appeals, the trial of Peter Tobin, and the inquest into the death of HRH Diana, Princess of Wales.  Allan was recently in Cairo assisting the Egyptian Government’s inquiry into anaesthetic deaths.  Allan and his team will be able to share their skills with the students undertaking the very successful Forensic and Policing courses which run at the University.

Professor Allan Jamieson (Right) with Professor John Cassella at the 2009 Graduation ceremony for the Faculty of Sciences.

Throughout July and August 2009 a new and up-coming crime writer, Claire Atherton, has been visiting the Forensic Science Department here at Staffordshire University to gain experience of the techniques behind forensic science to ensure her books are factually accurate.

These visits involved her observing practical laboratory sessions in forensic analytical techniques as well as processing crime scenes and shadowing police officers on their forensic awareness training course.

Claire has been liaising with lecturers in specific areas of forensic science including Laura Walton, in relation to DNA analysis, Dave Rogers, Hilton Middleton and Roger Summers with regards to crime scene processing and Dr.Claire Gwinnett, Jodie Stuart and Dr.Sarah Fieldhouse in relation to criminalistic techniques.

We look forward to seeing Claire's books published very soon!

Saturday 7th March saw John Cassella and 2nd year Forensic science students attempting to catch Jack the Ripper - all in the name of the ‘Public Understanding of Science’.

The whole day event involved a short play by pupils from Haywood High School and Engineering College, High Lane in Burslem about the murder of Mary Kelly – the last of the Rippers victims. As well as the play, members of the public, young and old were able to analyse handwriting from the Rippers many letters, examine hairs and fibres, hunt for buried artefacts in the grounds of the museum and take their own fingerprints as well as dusting for prints. Over 1000 visitors came to the museum during the event.

This is the 3rd year of Public Understanding of Science Events working with the Potteries and Art Galley Museum in Hanley, and last years event called ‘Forensic Science The History and the Mystery’ is currently part of the “Best of the West Awards”. The judging panel thought that last years project; CSI Stoke was a particularly excellent example of Inspiration in the West Midlands and have consequently shortlisted the event in the Inspiration -Small Budget category for the Renaissance West Midlands Best of the West Awards. Renaissance West Midlands invited staff to the Awards Ceremony to be held on Thursday the 26th March at The Herbert in Coventry to begin with a drinks reception . The winners in each category will be announced at this ceremony and the prestigious 'Best of the West' award bespoke trophy will be awarded to the one project the judges felt best embodied the spirit of Renaissance.

Mr. Nikolaos D. Kalantzis, BSc, MFSSoc, FSSocDip, Visiting Research Fellow with the Forensic Science Department of Staffordshire University has been awarded the Forensic Science Society Research Scholarship.

In 2007 Mr. Kalantzis first presented evidence of substrate interference in the Raman spectra of inks, in the XIII Scientific Symposium of Handwriting Expertise in Wroclaw, Poland. This award will fund the classification of more than 200 different paper substrates into groups according to their spectra.

The next step of this research is to identify the interference for each ink class per group.

Staffordshire University's Professor John Cassella and Dr Jamie Pringle from Keele University ‘Applied and Environmental Geophysics Research Group’ were invited to present the findings of their research at the Royal College of Pathologists in London on March 4th.  The lecture in London was given to a select group of Home Office Forensic Pathologists and Police specialists involved in aspects of serious crime and was well received. Dr Benjamin Swift from the Forensic Pathology Services at the Culham Science Centre said that “the presentation at our CPD received some very good feedback from all in attendance (and was) most useful.” John Cassella in collaboration with Dr Jamie Pringle from Keele University formed the ‘Burial Research Group’ nearly 4 years ago and it has gained a national reputation for innovative and robust scientific research. As a measure of its continuing success, Professor Mark Harrison from the National Crime Faculty is due to visit the Group later in the month.

Their ‘Burial Research Group’ formed over 4 years ago involves collaborative researchers from, Staffordshire University, Keele University and STATS Geophysical Ltd. They have been conducting field trials in the Midlands over simulated (mock) shallow burials to determine the best, near-surface, geophysical detection technique(s) and if these change over time after burial.

The Royal College of Pathologists, established in 1962 maintains the internationally renowned standards and reputation of British pathology. The College's advises on a vast range of issues relating to pathology and John and Jamie’s  presentation on “Updates and Advances in The Location of Clandestine Burials” will offer new knowledge on the subject.

From the research in the Midlands urban test sites, the Burial Research Group have shown that bulk ground electrical methods, particularly resistivity, is the most promising technique to rapidly survey a suspected area and pinpoint a burial to assist the Police in their searches.

4th Annual Regional Forensic Science Student Conference –
Forensic Research and Practice into the 21st Century.
26th March 2009 @ Nottingham Trent University.

Forensic science students from across the Midlands region met at Nottingham Trent University for a one-day conference on forensic science.  However this was a scientific conference with a difference - it was the students themselves that were the designers, implementers, and reporters of their own research. 

This is the 4th ‘Forensic Institute Research Network [FIRN]’ forensic student conference.  Having originated at Staffordshire University and cycled regionally through Wolverhampton, Derby to this year's venue, it allowed for a reasonably sized group of around 70 student delegates to meet and present their final year research projects to their peer group and academics and Police/Forensic practitioners. 

One of the many benefits, was that it allowed students to present, with great pride, their first foray into the world of forensic science research.  They were also able to meet with students from other Universities, share degree-course and research experiences and make new friendships.  Also, as the years have progressed with these conferences, the increased interest from the forensic practitioners and Police services have meant that this years event saw many practitioners sitting in on presentations, giving talks and sharing lunchtime banter over the student posters - an excellent opportunity for students to scan the ‘jobs horizon’.

Truly impressive talks and posters saw the students thoroughly enjoy the experience of the day and some even won prizes for their hard work and presentations.  The FIRN student conferences are growing each year and will soon see this regional conference back at home in Staffordshire where it all began.

Forensic Science at Staffordshire University works with Primecare Forensic Medical to deliver a new bespoke University Learning Award

Primecare Forensic Medical Police is part of the Nestor Healthcare Group plc. They are a 24-hour business providing healthcare services to a number of police authorities throughout the country.  Primecare Forensic Medical offers both in- and out-of-hours healthcare solutions to secure establishments, police forces and immigration centres, offering a highly developed service providing care to patients presented in unique and challenging environments.

As part of their staff development to keep at the top of their profession Primecare and Forensic Science at Staffordshire University have successfully delivered the first of four modules leading to a bespoke University Learning Award, the first of its kind in the UK.
The first module on forensic awareness concluded with a 2 day workshop in the University’s Crime Scene House where Primecare staff worked through Crime Scenes – one involving a murder - in order to consolidate their learning on aspects of forensic science from the Crime Scene to the Courtroom.

Our Forensic Science department has forged a unique partnersip 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.
Dates for visits to Staffs. Uni. : Friday 24 April, Wednesday 6 May, Thursday 21 May and Monday 8 June 2009.

Following an initial briefing it’s a visit 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.