Introduction to Forensic Science

The course addresses four major evidence types: drugs of abuse, DNA, firearms and impression evidence, and discusses these through the exploration of a case-based scenario presented across a six-week modular framework. A murder case set on the murky shores of Loch Lomond provides the backbone to ‘Introduction to Forensic Science’. As the case unfolds each week, a number of evidence types, and the forensic science approaches that may be used to evaluate the evidence, are explored. In the first week we will set the scene and look at how the initial crime scene is processed. Subsequent weeks will introduce various types of evidence including drugs of abuse, fingerprints, DNA, footwear marks and firearms. Course material is supplemented with opportunities to check understanding and engage with fellow learners, as well as the course leaders, who have international reputations in the field of forensic science. You will be encouraged to formulate (and defend!) opinions on the case, based on your evaluation of the evidence. All will be revealed in the final week, so make sure you are there to find out the identity of the murderer!

• Penny Haddrill