Penn State's 2010 Forensic Science Lecture Series
16 August 2010 — Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the public are invited to a series of presentations on forensic science, criminal justice, and crime fiction. The 2010 Forensic Science Lecture Series will feature four leaders within the forensic-science field. Lecturers will discuss innovative techniques for identifying human remains, analyzing crime scenes, tracking down criminals, and authoring best-selling thriller novels. All lectures are free and will be held on Mondays from 12:20 p.m. to 1:10 p.m. in 111 Wartik Laboratory on the Penn State University Park campus.
The four lectures in the 2010 Penn State Forensic Science Lecture Series include:
#1 on 30 August: "Forensic Science: the Real CSI"
Speaker: Sanford A. Angelos, retired Senior Forensic Chemist for the United States Drug Enforcement Administration
Summary: Forensic scientists use chemistry to analyze and track illicitly manufactured substances such as methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and PCP. Learn about how law-enforcement personnel must receive rigorous training to enter and handle clandestine drug labs.
#2 on 13 September: "The FBI's Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center (TEDAC)"
Speaker: Andrew English, FBI Intelligence Analyst
Summary: Discover how intelligence analysts use forensic science to study how criminals and terrorists construct bombs and other improvised explosive devices.
#3 on 20 September: "Forensic Anthropology in the Real World"
Speaker: Donna Fontana, Forensic Anthropologist for the New Jersey State Police
Summary: Forensic anthropologists analyze human skeletal remains to estimate age and to determine sex, race, stature, and other information that may contribute to determining the victim's identity and cause of death. Discover how scientists and law-enforcement personnel search for and identify buried, hidden, or scattered human remains. Also, learn about the skill of three-dimensional clay facial-reconstructions and composite drawings based on skull analysis.
#4 on 27 September: "Thrilling Science: How to Spin Facts into Entertaining Fiction"
Speaker: Tess Gerritsen, international bestselling author
Summary: Discover how a former physician and anthropologist uses her experience and training to turn science into medically astute, best-selling suspense thrillers. The lecturer's first crime novel, The Surgeon, introduced Homicide Detective Jane Rizzoli, who has become the central focus of the current "Rizzoli & Isles" television series.
Special Event on 27 September: Best-selling author Tess Gerritsen will autograph copies of books and greet readers and fans on campus at the HUB from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
The Penn State 2010 Forensic Science Lecture Series is sponsored by the Penn State Eberly College of Science. For more information, contact the Forensic Science Program at 814-863-6758 or email kml142@psu.edu.