‘Forensics: Your Life in Your Hands’ – Café Science Extra on 10th September

Published On Fri 5 Sep 2014 by Grant Hill

Pioneering work to catch criminals when facial identification is not possible will be explained at the first Café Science Extra event of the 2014/15 season.

Dr Helen Meadows, from the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID) at the University of Dundee, will lead the event at Dundee Science Centre on Wednesday, 10th September. She will give an overview of the technique of studying vein patterns on hands and her work on analysing and creating databases of hand features.

She said, “Traditionally, the identification of offenders from photographic or video evidence has focussed on facial features. However, criminals are increasingly ensuring that their face does not appear in physical evidence.

“However, in 2007 a new scientific technique, pioneered at the University of Dundee, was accepted in the UK courts for the first time. The technique studies the patterns of veins on hands and was used in a ground-breaking trial to identify a suspect from images associated with a case of alleged child abuse.

“Since 2007, cases of a similar nature have continued to be presented to CAHID, with the technique being deployed in over 40 cases in the UK and internationally and helping to secure two life sentences and over 100 years of incarceration for perpetrators of child abuse.”

Café Science was launched in January 2008, and has attracted over 5000 visitors since then. The monthly events are informal discussions led by leading local researchers that allow members of the public the opportunity to learn more about the ground-breaking science happening locally.

Café Science Extra allows members of the public to meet with up-and-coming scientists from the Universities of Dundee, St Andrews and Abertay, the James Hutton Institute, and Dundee Science Centre.

‘Forensics: Your Life in Your Hands’ takes place at Infusion coffee shop, Dundee Science Centre, at 6pm on Wednesday, 10th September. Doors open at 5.30pm, and the event is free and open to all. There is no need to book in advance but an early arrival is recommended.

More information is available at www.cafesciencedundee.co.uk.    

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
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