Forensic Science - MSc

Physics and chemistry of fires and explosions:

Fire and arson – occurrence and importance. Combustion – definitions. Thermodynamics and enthalpy. Flammability limits, flash point, fire point, ignition temperature. Pyrolysis of wood and plastics. Fuels and accelerants. Propagation and spread of fires. Sampling and laboratory analysis of fire scene residues.

Explosions – definitions. Vapour phase and condensed phase explosions. Detonation and deflagration. High and low explosives. Primary and secondary high explosives. Molecular design of explosives. Survey of important explosives. Stoichiometry, oxygen balance, gas volumes, thermodynamics and enthalpy. Sampling and laboratory analysis of explosives residues. Preventative detection of explosives in contexts such as airports.

Fires:

Fire dynamics. Propagation and spread of fires – flames, fire types, flashover. Fire investigation. Forensic Science Service procedures at the scene. Damage observation and assessment. Fire and smoke patterns. Sources of ignition. Injuries and fatalities. Evidence recovery: sampling and laboratory analysis. Establishing the origin : the seat of the fire. Finding the cause: natural, accidental, negligent or deliberate? Indicators of arson. Evidence procedures. Case studies.

Explosions:

Control of the explosion scene and procedures for recovery of evidence. Damage observation and assessment. The work of the Forensic Explosives Laboratory. Identification of explosives: organics and inorganics. Bulk analysis. Trace analysis of explosives: recovery, extraction and analysis of samples. Physical evidence: detonators. Preventative detection. Precursor identification. Explosives evidence in court: legal definitions and procedures. Terrorism. Case studies.

The module lectures will cover the following topics:

• Historical methods

• DNA sample collection, processing and storage

• DNA theory

• DNA databases and statistical interpretation

• Quality Assurance, management and control

• Legal aspects

• Forensic case studies

• Future trends

Aims:

Students will develop a number of skills related to the Investigation and planning of research. Students will learn how to search and retrieve information from a variety of locations (databases, websites, journals, proceedings etc). They will learn how to compile professionally-produced documents such as the report of their own investigation in a direction of their choice. In addition, students will subsequently provide an outline proposal for funding for future research activity.

Through two Colloquium Reports, students will learn to write high-impact articles with a critical analysis of research presented by others. They will exercise presentation skills and present critical reviews and referee's reports of the research of others.

SYLLABUS:

The Research Project (60%)

Identification of a research area and the issues to tackle

Investigation of an unresolved issue comparing experiments and models, comparing approaches, assumptions and statistical methods.

Production of a dissertation

Proposal for future novel work as a short Case for Support for a PhD or research outside university environment

Project Management: Scheduling research programmes, Gantt, PERT charts.

Project Management: Costing of research, full economic cost, direct and indirect costs.

Poster presentation of the research

Research Review and Evaluation (40%)

Evaluation of Research: Colloquium attendance/viewing.

Science Communication: Preparation of two colloquium reports as a science magazine article with impact

Referee report on the colloquiums: strengths, weaknesses of both the speaker and the research quality.

Details of the work to be done will be announced by the convenor during the first two weeks of the academic year.

This module enables students from a variety of backgrounds (e.g. graduates in Forensic Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Forensic Biology etc.) to develop their expertise within selected areas of forensic science. Areas for development (e.g. crime scene analysis, ballistics, drug analysis, face recognition, DNA, etc.) will be identified during an initial meeting of the module convenor with each student.

Students will then be assigned a supervisor in the appropriate area who will guide them towards appropriate learning resources such as lecture and practical materials within the School’s portfolio of modules, textbooks and research journals, as well as providing tutorial guidance throughout the module. Guidance will be also given in preparing the dissertation and the presentation. Students will be expected to present verbally, and in writing, the background and advances (focussing on the last ten years) in their selected area of expertise.

The module will cover incident management from a tactical/regional and national/ strategic perspective using the four stage model: Identification, preparation, mitigation, and recovery.

A range of actual and potential incidents will be covered including air accident, marine accident, rail and road incident, terrorist attacks, and industrial and chemical incidents.

This will be achieved using lectures, critical evaluation of case studies, and real time simulated incident exercises.

Students will be required to examine all aspects of scene and major incident management, disaster planning and related legislation.

This will encompass emergency management and planning legislation, damage limitation, evacuation plans, logistical support, inter-agency operation and cooperation, and personnel management.

The module is designed to give students experience of a range of advanced laboratory methods with wide application in modern Forensic Science. These methods will underpin their Stage 4 Forensic Analysis and Incident Management Presentation (PS717) and research project (PS740) modules.

The module will be in two sections. In the first section, taught in the Autumn Term, students will receive training in a range of advanced chemical and physical laboratory methods. This section of the module will be assessed by a report written on each experiment. In the second section, beginning towards the end of the Autumn term and continuing throughout the Spring Term, students will select one of the methods for an extended self-directed project. This will evaluate the application of the method in Forensic Science, and will include experimental measurements to establish the detection limit of the method in trace analysis. This section of the module will be assessed by oral presentation and written dissertation.

Experiments will include such as (NB this is an illustrative list):

Students will undertake a project from an available project listing and will work under the guidance of a supervisor. The student will be encouraged to develop some level of research independence within the project remit appropriate of a postgraduate master’s student.

The project will be assessed on a number of criteria which will include the project work (the amount, quality etc appropriate for the level), effort put in by the student, the preparation of a written report and an oral presentation session. The student’s progress will be assessed mid way through the research project through some form of progress report. This will also involve some degree of forward planning such that the students assess their own project requirements for the following term allowing the student to learn time management and forward planning skills.