Decomposition Facilities

These facilities comprise a dedicated room and external compound for the investigation of insect and larvae life cycle and behaviour, and determining decomposition timelines.

Decomposition is a fast-developing discipline within the Forensic Science field. Determining the time since a victim was accessible to insect colonisation is a very important part of narrowing down a timeline of a crime. The facilities also allow students to investigate the impact of drugs and chemicals on insect growth and behaviour, this can be imperative when encountering insect activity at a crime scene.

The decomposition facilities have been used by our students and researchers to investigate:

  • Insect attraction to burn victims
  • Decomposition rates buried in different mediums
  • Soil
  • Concrete
  • Sand
  • Insect behaviour after ingesting drugs
  • Drugs, including Cocaine, diamorphine and alcohol
  • Larval growth on different tissues
  • Internal organs including heart, lungs and kidneys
  • Chicken
  • Beef
  • Insect succession to remains

Equipment

  • Insect husbandry environments
  • Sanyo MIR-154 Temperature Incubators
  • Interring containers

Staff

Photo of Decomposition Facilities

Location

Opening Times

Access times are Monday to Friday 9am – 4.30pm 

 

Hub

Science Hub

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Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

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of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

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Research Excellence Framework 2021

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