Here in the Forensic Science Department at Staffordshire University we are involved in many activities aimed at continually evolving our programmes of study to give our students the opportunity to develop their skills both personally and professionally. This Newsletter is designed to keep staff, students and interested parties up to date with recent activities that have taken place either here at Staffordshire University or elsewhere.

Archaeological Dig at Berry Hill Farm (3rd - 28th July 2006)

Forensic Science students were given a unique opportunity to actually be involved in an Archaeological Dig this summer! Staffordshire University Forensic Science Department worked in conjunction with the Stoke-on-Trent Archaeology Service to excavate Lawn Farm, an 18th Century farmhouse.

Lawn Farm lies on Berryhill Fields within the city of Stoke-on-Trent. Throughout the 18th to 20th centuries it was a small farm on the edge of the Staffordshire moorlands, eventually surrounded by industry in the form of coal mines and brickworks. The conjunction of industry and agriculture, and town and country made it an interesting site and the excavation results will be integrated into an oral history project for Berryhill.

Training was given to the students in archaeological techniques including digging, planning, taking levels and field processing. The students were involved in every stage, from site clearance to caring for recovered items.

Initial site clearance at Lawn Farm, Berryhill Fields.

Some of our staff and students eager to start digging!

Stages of digging and excavation over the archaeological dig.

Items recovered and stored on site for the period of the dig. Some of the recovered items are on display at Staffordshire University.

This picture was drawn by someone who grew up on the farm.

Meeting the Lord Mayor and local councillors.

 

Screening of 'Crime Scene Challenge' Programme (7th July 2006)

In July 2006 several members of staff from our Forensic Science Department were asked to take part in the production of a Forensic Science Programme called 'Crime Scene Challenge'. The programme was designed as a game show which involved three novice contestants going through forensic processes at a murder scene in order to identify the offender. The murder scene was set up at the University's Crime Scene House and the three contestants were required to process the scene, collect and analyse the recovered evidence. Hilton Middleton, Sarah Fieldhouse and Laura Walton were involved in providing expertise in crime scene processing and management, fingerprint collection and analysis, and identification of body fluids and DNA profiling.