100% Portfolio of practical work
(Assessing Learning Outcomes 1 - 6)

Fisher, B.A.J. 2000. Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation. CRC Press, London.

Jackson, A.R.W. & Jackson, J.M. 2004. Forensic Science. Pearson, Rugby.

Murray, R.C. 2004. Evidence from the Earth. Forensic Geology and Criminal Investigations. Mountain Press Publication Company, Montana.

Murray, R.C. & Tedrow, J. 1992. Forensic Geology. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Pye, K. & Croft, D.J. (eds) 2004. Forensic Geoscience: Principles, Techniques & Applications. Geological Society, London Special Publications, 232.

White, P. (ed) 1998. Crime Scene to Court: The Essentials of Forensic Science. Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge.

Ruffell, A. & McKinley, J. (2008). Geoforensics. Wiley-Blackwell

Information derived from websites and on line databases on the internet.

UKESCC courseware packages from workstations in the Sciences IT suite.

Geoscience maps and videos from the Learning Resource Centre.

Petrological and binocular microscopeBlackboard VLE

Books and journal articles from the Thompson library.

Rock, mineral, sediment, soil & dust samples (including organic materials) from laboratories in the Mellor building including S109 (geology laboratory) and the geology rock store S001.

Geophysical equipment.

Ground surrounding the crime scene house.

Note that in compiling this list of resources DDA issues have been considered.

The module will be delivered through an appropriate mix of lectures, practical exercises and independent learning. There will be approximately 20 hours of class contact which will normally include around 10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of associated practical work. Some directed reading from books and journal articles will form the basis of the independent learning in support of both practical and theory work for written exercises.

The module aims to introduce students to the nature of forensically significant geoscience data and geoscience techniques and to demonstrate their utility and application in forensics investigations. Topics covered include: the nature and significance of naturally occurring Earth materials (rocks, minerals, soils, organic materials and dust) relevant to forensic work; the value of these materials in providing trace evidence that link criminals to objects, places, crime scenes and the victims of crime; the utility of some anthropogenically-mediated Earth materials (such as those used in the construction industry - e.g. bricks, cement and concrete) as trace evidence in both civil and criminal cases; the means by which such materials can be collected, identified and analysed using a variety of geochemical and microscopical techniques; an introduction to the application of geophysical and geospatial (Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems) techniques to criminal investigations.