Profile – Forensic Science Zone

Education:

Norwich School, Norfolk (1986-1992)
Qualifications:

Royal Holloway University of London BSc Geology (1992-1996) & Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh) PhD Applied Engineering (1998-2002)
Work History:

Worked as a geophysicist in Mold, North Wales and as a researcher at Liverpool University before coming to Keele
Current Job:

Lecturer in Applied Geosciences, which includes forensic science. Teach, research and do active case search jobs for buried material

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Work is very varied, I could be lecturing on science, or giving a talk at a school one day, to research projects with students or active searches for buried things . Buried items could be cleared building foundations, illegal waste material or buried weapons. Sometimes I get asked for advice from search investigators to assist with detection of forensic material, the most high profile being graves of murder victims. I normally use geophysical techniques, which can tell where material is buried given the right ground conditions. See this web-link if you are interested: www.physics.org/featuredetail.asp?id=59
My Typical Day:

A lecture, work on some data I have previously collected, and perhaps advise some search case investigators
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In term time Im usually doing practicals with undergraduates, to help them understand how different detection techniques work and getting them used to operating equipment.
Out of term time I will be doing a mixture of research projects and search investigations. These are mostly in the UK and when conventional methods have proved unsuccessful. For example last summer I have been looking for a buried coal narrow boat barge in Stoke-on-Trent (see:
www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Team-search-boat-48-years/article-2288079-detail/article.html)
What I'd do with the prize money:

I’d buy 5 dead pigs, bury them to continue research into detecting graves of murder victims and allow students access of the data!

Jamie Pringle