This module will cover various aspects of forensic science from a practical perspective. This will mean undertaking laboratory activities that relate to core theoretical studies in chemistry and biology, including but not limited to: reactivity of organic compounds, the concepts of accuracy and precision, sensitivity and selectivity of analytical techniques, sample pre-treatment, safe handling of potentially hazardous chemical and biological material, basic genetic principles, anatomy and physiology of systems.

Alongside the practical classes you will undertake mathematical tutorials on topics such as algebra, trigonometry, logarithms and exponentials, calculus, matrices, quantities and units. This will further support your scientific thinking and application of scientific approaches within computational studies.

Two assessed practical sessions, to showcase skills within the laboratory setting. These will set tasks that have been previously used in the teaching year and require students to complete individually. One set of tasks will focus on the demonstration of skills in the biology laboratory, while the other will focus on the demonstration of chemical skills.

Two reports that will cover a practical undertaken during the year. This will explore your understanding of key theory from lectures and its application to forensic scenarios. These will demonstrate an ability to communicate concisely and scientifically to an appropriate level.

A portfolio of work arising from completion of the computational workshops this will review the analysis of data and simulation of scenarios. This will be submitted in-class at the final workshop of Semester 2.

Practical classes, in the chemical and biological laboratories to develop laboratory skills, techniques of safe handling of hazardous substances and specific skills in synthesis and analysis. These will be spread across both semesters to support learning in other core modules.
Workshops to explore key mathematical techniques that support learning in this and other modules. Further computational workshops to explore data recording and analysis will form a portfolio of work.

Independent study will be used to research background information related to the delivery of the core material and to work on assignments. Formative activities will be provided on the University VLE alongside key content in practical classes.

1. Apply theoretical concepts to practical forensic problems.

1) Knowledge and Understanding

4) Analysis

2. Develop appropriate computational solutions to forensic scenarios.

3) Enquiry

5) Problem Solving

3. Explore forensic problems from a mathematical perspective.

2) Learning

4) Analysis

5) Problem Solving

4. Discuss how practical methods can bridge across a range of disciplines within forensics.

7) Application

8) Reflection

Access to subject-specific laboratories

Housecroft, C.E. and Constable, E.C. (2010) Chemistry. 4th ed. Harlow: Prentice-Hall

Langford, Dean, Reed, Holmes, Weyers and Jones, 2010, Practical Skills in Forensic Science (2nd edition), Prentice Hall

Nelson, Stephen L and Nelson, Elizabeth C., 2014, Excel data analysis for dummies, 3rd ed.

Reece, Urry, Cain, Wasserman, Minorsky and Jackson, 2011, Campbell Biology (International Edition) 9th edition, Pearson Education

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Utilise forensics in practical scenarios; understand how the laboratory translates into the real-world. Build scientific models of data and apply them to what you see experimentally. This module will introduce you to the biological, chemical, mathematical and computational tools you need to succeed as a forensic scientist.