FOR5022 Advanced methods in forensic science: emerging trends and issues
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
FOR5022 Advanced methods in forensic science: emerging trends and issues is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, offered in 2020 in Semester 2 at Southbank. It needs FOR4001, FOR4003 and FOR4004.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2020
- Semester 2
- Southbank
This is the 2020 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before FOR5022
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
After FOR5022
No unit lists FOR5022 as a prerequisite in the 2020 handbook.
Overview
Forensic science is essentially problem solving based on the examination of traces and compounds collected from scenes and persons.
As the traces and compounds become more complex, instrumentation used to analyse them becomes more sophisticated and sensitive and the interpretation of the results of analysis becomes more problematic.
In addition to this technical evolution, there are emerging trends and issues that will impact forensic science service provision across its broad scope.
These trends and issues that are a coming together of both 'hard' science and social science have the potential to significantly change the thinking and practice of forensic science and the way in which forensic science laboratories operate.
Students of this Unit will be exposed to concepts which include:
- Forensic intelligence
- Cognitive bias
- Problem solving; who, what and how
- Triage
- Sensitivity
- The science, medicine, law and law enforcement silo mentality
This on-line unit will explore these concepts, the links between many of them and their potential impact on forensic science.
Contemporary articles/texts on the concepts will be provided.
Offerings in 2020
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Southbank | Block on |
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Critically evaluate the changes occurring in forensic science practice and explain these as the result of the engagement with social science and criminalistics.
- 2
Recognise the links and possible tensions between emerging issues such as forensic intelligence, triage, and cognitive bias, and how these may impact data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
- 3
Identify risks of existing insular (siloed) approaches between medicine, science, law and law enforcement and its impact on forensic science.
- 4
Understand and articulate how the proposed changes to insular work practices will affect the current forensic science work flow patterns.
- 5
Comprehend and articulate the need for the forecast changes in forensic intelligence processes, siloed workplaces, issues of bias and triage, and the benefits these changes will bring to the end-users of forensic science.
Workload and teaching
It is expected that students will need to undertake approximately 12 hours of study per week over the Semester.
This will include private study (text and readings), assessment tasks (case studies, assignments), and may include involvement in case work Students are required to attend a two day workshop during the semester.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Mr AliRoss Ross
- Chief Examiners
- Associate Professor Richard Bassed