SCHOOL OF
FORENSIC AND
INVESTIGATIVE
SCIENCES
WELCOmE TO THE
SCHOOL OF FORENSIC AND
INVESTIGATIVE SCIENCES
The School of Forensic and Investigative Sciences strives
to be internationally-recognised for excellence in teaching
and research, providing an unrivalled student experience
in order to equip highly-valued graduates for lifelong
achievement in the global market.
As the largest school of its kind in the UK, we cover a diverse range of subjects: forensic investigation; policing; criminal investigation; chemistry; forensic chemistry; forensic biology; fire safety and engineering; forensic anthropology; archaeology.
We have well-established research centres in the areas of materials science,
fire and hazards science, investigation and leadership, and archaeology that underpin our consultancy and educational offerings across their disciplines.
Our reputation has allowed us to recruit many professionals from forensic science, the police and fire and rescue services, as well as world-leading academic researchers. This combination of staff allows us to build on the many years’ experience of senior practitioners and new research
developments at the cutting-edge of the disciplines.
We are very proud of our facilities and these have recently been enhanced by the opening of our new £12.5-million J B Firth Building to support our capability in chemistry and fire safety and engineering. In addition, our state-of-the-art resources include three crime scene houses, a vehicle examination area, a blood spatter pattern analysis suite, dedicated laboratories for the search and recovery of evidential materials, forensic anthropology, forensic biology and genetics and forensic entomology, together with a Moot Court Room, interview suites and field provision for anthropology and archaeology.
Throughout the year we run a number of open days at which you can meet staff and students, obtain more information, tour our facilities and gain an insight into life in the School and at UCLan.
More information is available on our website at
www.uclan.ac.uk/fis
Dr Allison Jones
THE LARGEST OF ITS
KIND IN THE UK, THE
SCHOOL HAS FIVE
INTERRELATED DIVISIONS:
UCLan Forensic Sciences
UCLan Policing
UCLan Chemistry
UCLan Archaeology
UCLan Fire
Our degree courses include specialisms such as:
l
CRImE SCENE INVESTIGATION
l
FORENSIC GENETICS AND ENTOmOLOGy
l
FORENSIC ANTHROpOLOGy
l
FORENSIC CHEmISTRy
All courses have been accredited by the Forensic Science
Society and our teaching staff include leading academics and
former senior crime scene investigators.
CRImE SCENE INVESTIGATION
Fingerprint recovery and identification, crime scene
photography, the analysis of hairs, fibres, tool marks, blood
spatter patterns, and much more.
UCLan was the first university in Britain to use crime scene houses for studying purposes. We now have three interconnected scene houses as well as a garaged vehicle examination bay, a large office premises crime scene, and a blood spatter pattern analysis suite. Our dedicated Criminalistics Laboratory is equipped with cutting-edge microscopy and analytical equipment.
All students on forensic science courses take modules in crime scene investigation.
UCLAN
FORENSIC
SCIENCES
FORENSIC BIOLOGy
Locating biological evidence, blood groupings, DNA
extraction and profiling, as well as estimating time since
death from insect evidence.
Practical classes take place in our Forensic Biology and Forensic Genetics Laboratories, using the same technology as leading forensic science service providers. The School also has thermal imaging cameras and two dedicated insect incubation laboratories.
FORENSIC ANTHROpOLOGy
The process of post-mortem decomposition, how to
excavate clandestine graves and how to identify and
analyse human skeletal remains.
Our human skeletal teaching collections contain modern skeletons and archaeological populations, as well as individual specimens and high-quality casts. Two dedicated laboratories are equipped with the full range of osteological instruments.
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FORENSIC CHEmISTRy
The examination of chemical evidence, large-scale or trace,
from a variety of environments, including recoveries from
illicit drug production and distribution or results from fire and
explosives investigations.
Our new teaching laboratories and analytical unit are amongst the best designed and appointed in the country, containing the latest equipment for forensic investigation, including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, high performance liquid
chromatography and Raman spectroscopy.
RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCy
We offer a range of highly-acclaimed master’s courses in the fields of:
l forensic anthropology
l forensic genetics
l document analysis
l conservation and wildlife genetics
Our master’s courses attract students from all around the world. Specialist short courses are also available in such areas as post-mortem interval estimation and forensic photography, amongst others. Doctoral research is focused on the application of DNA in human identification, wildlife genetics and post-mortem interval estimation.
The School’s taphonomic research facility is unique in Europe. The Taphonomic Research in Anthropology: Centre for Experimental Studies (TRACES) generates cutting-edge research which is regularly published in academic journals and presented at international conferences.
Specialist staff in forensic anthropology and forensic genetics frequently undertake, and are available for, casework and consultancy.
UCLAN pOLICING
Our courses in policing are not just for people who want
careers in policing or associated professions; they provide the
skills and high levels of confidence that are valued by private
and public sector graduate employers of all kinds.
Those keen to pursue a career as a police officer should seriously consider our two-year foundation degree, which is closely based on the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme. Students on the course are expected to apply to be a Special Constable and take on all the powers of a regular officer. As Special Constables, students will be on patrol in one of our partner police forces who work closely with us on their development and learning, including Lancashire Constabulary, Merseyside Police and British Transport Police.
Our BSc(Hons) degrees are designed for those who want to acquire recognised graduate skills in the fields of policing, investigation and airport security. Studies include the law, technological security solutions, and a wide range of investigative procedures ranging from simple theft through to homicide, complex fraud, cybercrime and even international war crimes.
Successful students will feel comfortable in taking up careers as investigators not only in the police but with a wide range of employers, including insurance companies, banks and security firms.
RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCy
We offer master’s courses in a variety of fields, including criminal investigation, policing and counter terrorism.
Our teaching staff comprises highly-experienced former senior police officers and investigators - as well as currently-serving officers who are seconded in from police forces – together with highly-qualified academics. Our team is ready to develop professional short courses or undertake consultancy to meet specific customer needs, both nationally and internationally.
Visit:
www.uclan.ac.uk/policing
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UCLAN CHEmISTRy
Taught in our state-of-the-art laboratories, chemistry at UCLan
offers a unique learning experience. In addition to providing
a solid foundation in the traditional aspects of chemistry,
there is a strong emphasis on modern practices and the latest
developments at the forefront of the subject. Courses offered
include BSc(Hons) and MChem(Hons) together with a range
of MSc courses in the fields of instrumental analysis, synthetic
organic chemistry and forensic toxicology. Our courses provide
a balance between high-quality formal teaching and practical,
hands-on laboratory experience.
RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCy
Chemistry research is focused within the Centre for Materials Science and covers a broad range of subjects including nano-materials, medicinal chemistry, interdisciplinary analytical science, catalysis and nuclear materials. Research was defined as world-leading and internationally excellent in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise and the Centre has a strong track record of attracting funding both from government sources and industry. We have been particularly successful in collaborative projects with industry and welcome approaches from all companies, whether small or multinational.
Our state-of-the-art analytical facilities provide a full range of analytical instrumentation. We offer a contract analysis service and pride ourselves on being responsive to customer needs. We would be delighted to discuss projects of all sizes from single samples to extensive analytical projects. Our team of talented synthetic chemists offers a contract synthesis service and is happy to provide a synthetic solution to meet individual needs. We also offer a range of training and continuing professional development courses which again can be tailored to meet the client’s individual needs.
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UCLan Chemistry
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UCLan Archaeology
Visit:
www.uclan.ac.uk/archaeology
UCLAN
Fieldwork and practical skills are a core part of archaeology
at UCLan. Our undergraduate courses enable students
to undertake a minimum of 10 weeks’ fieldwork, with
opportunities to take part in local archaeological digs and
field surveys, as well as excavations further afield in the UK
and abroad. Whilst being one of the biggest universities in
the country with all the advantages that brings, we have
an excellent staff-to-student ratio which means that our
students receive all the time and attention from our staff
that they need and expect.
We have excellent facilities including a new archaeological science laboratory which contains areas for processing finds as well as a soil flotation unit, and also a dedicated bone lab for the analysis of human and animal skeletal remains. We have some of the very latest geophysical equipment and software and award-winning online materials.
Our excavations have received widespread national coverage in the press and on television while our staff’s publication output is internationally-acknowledged. Our individual specialisms mean that research is focused in specific periods, namely the Neolithic of Britain and Ireland, the archaeology of the modern world and the early historical period in Britain and beyond. We run projects in Europe, North America and Africa (specifically Kenya and Mauritius) and much of our research is landscape-based, with a particular focus on the archaeology of natural places. We have a number of projects investigating caves, which is a particular strength of our research cluster, and other projects are studying the archaeological record across entire landscapes.
RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCy
We have a rapidly-expanding group of PhD research students whose projects include Prehistoric and pre-Columbian rock art in California, the Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Oakington in Cambridgeshire, and the analysis and interpretation of Bronze Age barrows in Northern England.
UCLAN FIRE
We offer one of the largest ranges of courses in fire
engineering in Europe. These have been designed and
developed with employers and professional bodies and
taught by experts in combustion, explosions and fire safety
engineering. Our courses are supported by access to
facilities at Washington Hall, the UK’s international fire,
training and development centre.
Studies on our courses include the causes, dynamics and consequences of fire, fire safety design and management, fire investigation, fire protection and prevention, fire-fighting and hazards, and risk management. Our new, purpose-built laboratory is fully-equipped for a range of small- to intermediate-scale fire tests, backed by state-of-the-art analytical and material characterisation facilities.
RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCy
Research students undertake directed studies within the Centre for Research in Fire and Hazard Science, and particular areas of expertise include: l burning behaviour and relationship between
small- and large-scale studies
l decomposition and combustion mechanisms and influence of additives
l quantification of toxicants present in the fire effluent l smoke evolution
l environmental aspects
Our Fire Chemistry Group has been awarded research grants from EPSRC, DTI and the EU, as well as several grants and studentships from industry including FROCC, Tyco Safety Products, BRE Fire and Security, Pilkington, Rhodia Consumer Specialties Ltd, Acordis Speciality Fibres, Unifi Tye Ltd, Scapa Polymerics, AEI Compounds, Condor, and Borealis. This joint collaboration between engineers, physicists and chemists has considerable promise since the diversity of recent threats to public safety requires integrated teams with expertise ranging from explosion and fire hazards to toxic species distribution and early detection.
