May 27, 2005

Purdue to conduct summer forensic science workshops

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Two Purdue University instructors and a Lafayette-area coroner this summer will conduct a pair of forensic science workshops for the public.

The workshops, which are designed to teach about real-world crime scene investigation techniques, will take place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on June 4 and July 9. Each workshop costs $149, which includes lunch and an evidence kit, and registration is required.

Ralph Williams, Purdue professor of entomology, and David Tate, director of clinical and forensic science at Purdue, will conduct the workshops. Patrick Jones, the chief deputy coroner of White County, also will serve as an instructor.

Each workshop will feature instruction on introductory crime scene investigation, as well as photographic imaging, forensic entomology, evidence collection, fingerprint recovery, blood evidence analysis and burglary investigation. The workshops also will include a discussion of advanced crime scene investigation techniques.

"The goal of the workshops is to expose the inner workings of crime scene investigation to the general public in a way that is both interesting and informative," Tate said. "Forensic science has become enormously popular in American culture, particularly with the success of so many crime scene investigation shows on television today. This is a way for people to better learn about real-world CSI techniques."

Registration for the workshops begins at 7:30 a.m. both days in Smith Hall, Room 126. Registration and lodging information is available online or by contacting Robin Bell, conference coordinator at Purdue, at (765) 494-2402, (800) 359-2968, rebell@purdue.edu.

Registration fees can be paid in advance by mailing checks, payable to Purdue University, to the Office of Continuing Education and Conferences Business Services, Purdue University, Stewart Center, Room 110, 128 Memorial Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47906. Fees also can be paid by credit card by faxing information to (765) 494-0567 or by registering online.

Purdue also will conduct a pair of forensic science workshops specifically designed for attorneys. Those workshops are scheduled for June 16 and July 7, with registration fees set at $295.

More information about the workshops for attorneys is available online or by contacting Bell.

Writer: Aaron Martin, (765) 496-3133, martinac@purdue.edu

Source: David Tate, (765) 494-1392, dgtate@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: Media are welcome at the events. Contact Robin Bell, conference coordinator at Purdue, at (765) 494-2402, (800) 359-2968, rebell@purdue.edu, to make arrangements.

To the News Service home page