CSI-style forensics course developed by University of Leicester academics

20 Jul 09

A summer school focusing on forensic science and taught by experts from the UK and US - thought to be the first of its kind at a UK university - is to be held at the University of Leicester.

By Brian Sims

As part of the "international summer schooling in forensic science", students will have to ‘solve a crime’ as part of the three-week programme to be conducted during the remainder of this month and in August, and will carry out experiments at a ‘crime scene’.

The summer school is part of the activity of the University of Leicester’s Forensic Research Centre, and is spearheaded by Honorary Research Fellow Dr John Bond (who is also a research scientist at Northamptonshire Police) and Professor Rob Hillman in the Department of Chemistry.

Burgeoning interest in forensic science

Speaking to SMT Online about the move, Dr Bond said: “Recent years have witnessed a booming interest in forensic science. News headlines and programmes such as CSI continue to fascinate the public. Unsurprisingly, there is great demand to study forensic science, although the resources to do so are rather limited. The University of Leicester has organised this summer school for students who wish to study forensic science, but are unable to do so at their own universities. The event will also count towards a participant’s degree programme on a credit-based system."

While other universities within the UK hold similar events, the Leicester summer school is truly unique. It's the only one taught by experts from institutions both within the UK and elsewhere. In addition to Bond and Hillman, the other principal instructor this year is Professor John Wang from the Department of Criminal Justice at California State University.

“We are expecting more than 20 students this year," added Bond, "the majority of whom are from the US. We are really pleased with this, given the current economic climate.”

Looking to solve a 'crime'

At the summer school, students will learn the basics of forensic science by taking on the role of forensic scientists and ‘solving a crime’. They will carry out experiments on items from a ‘crime scene’ and assist the police with their investigation. While the crime scene and ‘evidence’ are not real, the way the evidence is presented and experiments conducted will mirror how an actual forensic scientist works. Participants will also visit forensic labs and a working police station to compliment their classes.

At all stages, the students will learn how the use of forensic science varies between the US and the UK. This also makes the Leicester summer school different and more comprehensive than others in the UK.

Dr Bond continued: “We are pleased to be able to give students a solid grounding in forensic science, in an environment that enables them to study overseas and, at the same time, gain credits towards their courses back home. We are also really happy that the university is fully supporting this unique event, and we're very much looking forward to welcoming Professor Wang and the students to Leicester."

In conclusion, Bond told SMT Online: "I know that some UK universities that have offered a forensic science summer school in the past have cancelled it this year because they cannot attract students. I think this emphasises the unique appeal of the Leicester course. We hope to attract more students next year, not only from the US but from all over the world”.

Retaining rigorous analytical standards

Dean of Science Professor Rob Hillman explained: “The relevance and importance of science in our daily lives are frequently under-appreciated. Forensic science is now providing the public with some very vivid examples that make this clear. New challenges are constantly being presented to the forensic scientist, who must be innovative in the development of new technologies while at the same time retaining rigorous analytical standards that can stand the test of the legal process."

Hillman continued: “We are delighted to welcome students from the US to Leicester, and hope that they will enjoy the experience of visiting one of the UK’s leading teaching and research intensive universities.”

The course runs from today through until Friday 7 August, and takes place principally in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Leicester (which was ranked as the University of the Year for 2008-2009 by The Times Higher Education Supplement).

Commitment to research excellence

A member of the 1994 group of universities that share a commitment to research excellence, high quality teaching and an outstanding student experience, the University of Leicester boasts other strong credentials. It was ranked as a Top 20 university by The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Times and the UK Complete University Guide, which was published in The Independent. It's also ranked in the Top 10 in England for research impact by The Guardian.

Founded in 1921, the University of Leicester has more than 20,000 students from 136 countries. Teaching in 18 subject areas has been graded Excellent by the Quality Assurance Agency - including 14 successive scores - a consistent run of success matched by just one other UK University. Leicester is world renowned for the invention of DNA fingerprinting by Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys and houses Europe's biggest academic Space Research Centre.

The latest Research Assessment Exercise adjudged Leicester to have world leading research in every subject panel and identified Museum Studies (at 65%) as having the highest proportion of world leading researchers compared with any other subject area at any university in the UK. Leicester also emerged as having one of the highest proportions of staff who are research active in the UK, with approximately 93% of staff submitted for the exercise.

The university's research grant income places it among the Top 20 UK research universities. The university employs over 3,000 people, has an annual turnover of over £200 million, covers an estate of 94 hectares and is engaged in a £300 million investment programme.