Forensic Science News Winter 2009

Staffordshire University's Professor John Cassella and Dr Jamie Pringle from Keele University ‘Applied and Environmental Geophysics Research Group’ have been invited to present the findings of their research at the Royal College of Pathologists in London on March 5th.

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.

"You send teachers and technicians to these courses - brilliant, genius!" 
 
This was the enthusiastic feedback from one teacher who visited the Faculty of Sciences stand at the ASE conference exhibition which ran from 8-10 Jan 2009.  School teachers and technicians could find out about the activities and courses that the Faculty offers.  Jayne Francis and Sharon Crawford were on hand to discuss the range of Forensic activities that are offered to schools and colleges as well as demonstrating their expertise in the use of make up to simulate trauma scenarios in mock crime scenes, as demonstrated by Sue Bird's black eye in this image.

We showcased the range of postgraduate awards offered in areas such as Psychology, Environment & Sustainability, Molecular Biology and Forensic Science. These awards are available by distance learning making them ideal for continuous professional development.  We also discussed the short CPD courses that we run for teachers and technicians as well as other services such as crime scene simulations in our scene of crime house. 

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.

On the evening of Monday 24th November 2008 East Midlands Airport carried out it's annual licensing exercise, which involved a full scale air disaster scenario, in which a specially constructed aircraft fuselage, which when ignited reached temperatures in the region of 800 Celsius in approximately 30 seconds.

This year as on previous occasions, Forensic Science students from Staffs. Uni. were given the exclusive invitation to take part in this dramatic exercise.  They performed the roles of passengers seated within a further aircraft fuselage which had crashed on landing at the airport.  This was an opportunity for students to be involved in a unique learning experience,  approx. 70 students and 4 members of staff participated.  Following the evacuation from the wreckage, students were bused to another part of the airport where they were the subject of critical triage performed by ambulance, police and other emergency personnel.  It gave an opportunity for our students to experience first hand the essential procedures involved following an air crash.  A member of the airport Fire & Rescue service said,"Without the students involvement and engagement, this exercise could not have taken place".

Dr. Summers said," Unique experiences such as these underpin the taught elements of modules involving Human Identification Techniques and Pathology".

A Big THANK YOU to all who took part in this exercise - keeping Staffs. Uni. Forensics students in the hot seat!