Profile - Forensic Science Zone

Curriculum Vitae

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
Employer:

Keele University

Favourite thing to do in my job: Doing fieldwork, it’s great to work outdoors, investigating something new and collecting data!
My Work

Lecturing, research and doing searches 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!
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I have been busy making simulated crime scenes, so I can try different detection equipment to work out what is best for what target .
Targets vary from de-activated hand grenades to simulated murder victims using pigs. We arent allowed to use humans in the UK, so pigs are a good substitute. Follow this link if interested: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/7730596.stm
I will monitor this via a blog and let students and teachers access data, as I already do for graveyards, available on the FreshScience website (https://ecpd.slcs.ac.uk/FreshScience/)
My Interview
- How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
  
  energetic curious optimistic
  
  What's the best thing you've done in your career?
  
  I was lucky enough to visit ‘The Body Farm’ in Tennessee (US) last summer. Great experience if a little grisly!
  
  Were you ever in trouble at school?
  
  I jumped over the tennis net and got detention I seem to remember!
  
  Who is your favourite singer or band?
  
  Bloc Party
  
  What is the most fun thing you've done?
  
  Flew around Monument Valley in Utah in a helicopter with the door open!
  
  If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
  
  1) I wouldnt need sleep so I could work harder! 2) I’d havea big research group so we could do lots of research! 3) I wouldnt get injured so I’d run really fast.
  
  Tell us a joke.
  
  Why didnt the skeleton go to the party? He had no-body to go with :)
My profile link:
https://ias.im/u.6892