Forensic Science

Testament to the the growing academic and legal interest in brain scanning was a recent conference dedicated to the subject. "The law and ethics of brain scanning: The next big thing coming to a courtroom near you" took place back in April in Pheonix Arizona and drew together judges, psychologists, neuroscientists, lawyers and ethicists.

Came across a very interesting article on the science of arson and fire investigation. The article highlights the fact that new methods of analysis and computer simulation are transforming arson investigators' understanding of how fires start and spread.

Geoforensics (the application of rock, dirt or soil analysis within a criminal investigation) an be traced back to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's brilliant fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.

In an ancient Inca cemetery just outside Lima, Peru, archeologists made a disturbing discovery: a cluster of skeletons dumped in shallow, hasty graves, victims of brutal injuries. Among the crushed cheekbones and snapped limbs, the scientists find a skull bearing two round puncture holes. Could this be New World's first gunshot victim?

Kathy Reichs is a forensic anthropologist who works for the office of the Chief Medical Examiner in North Carolina, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and for the Laboratoire de Sciences Judiciaires et de Medecine Legale in Quebec. Her work as a forensic anthropologist is as internationally recognised as her best selling novels.

Great article for anybody interested in studying forensic psychology. Dr. Christopher Cronin addresses the issue of forensic degrees, including what degree is best for employment within forensic psychology.

Forensic scientists have devised a remarkable technique that appears to be able to link digital photographs to the camera that took the picture.

This 2 day conference (26th/27th June) organised by Northumbria University in conjunction with the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), will discuss and debate several issues relating to the future of forensic science.

Introducing a great new forum for anybody interested in forensic psychology, criminal profiling, forensic science etc.

The Tay Bridge disaster remains the worst structural disaster in British history. On the 28th December the central navigation spans of the bridge collapsed killing 75 people who were on board a train at the time.

Podiatry is a field of healthcare related to the study and medical treatment of the foot and ankle and it's application in a legal context (Forensic podiatry) is helping to inform criminal investigations by matching criminals to their footprints and footwear.

It's always useful to have a historical perspective on a topic area because it provides you with a sense of the moral, social and intellectual attitudes that helped shaped its identity; and forensic topic areas are no different in this respect.

Information about the forensic channel on YouTube, which showcases a great collection of forensic science related videos.

Popular Science Magazine has just published it's annual 'bottom-10-list' of the worst jobs in science. This irreverent look at the more interesting side of scientific employment is described as a salute to the men and women who do what no salary can adequately reward.

Found another great freely available forensic science related podcast. This one features Pioneering forensic anthropologist Dr. Bill Bass, who is best known for establishing the body farm at the University of Tennessee Forensic Anthropology Facility; made famous by Patricia Cornwell's bestselling novel of the same name.

Came across a news article from India that provides another great example of the wonderful and diverse ways in which forensic science can be applied; in this case lion poaching.

Thanks to the amazing discovery of a mass gladiator grave in Ephesus, Turkey; forensic anthropologists Dr Fabian Kanz and Professor Karl Grossschmidt have been able to piece together a detailed picture of how Gladiators lived, fought and died.