You the Jury, forensic scientist and crime writer

Published On Wed 2 Oct 2019 by Grant Hill

Members of the public will have the chance to step into the role of forensic investigators and jurors as part of a series of events exploring crime and justice at this year’s Festival of the Future.

The University of Dundee-led Festival takes place from Wednesday 16 to Sunday 20 October, with more than 50 events scheduled across its five-day run.

In the Three Act Robbery workshop, taking place on Saturday 19 October, participants will learn about scientific techniques to analyse different evidence types while learning about some of the work of the University’s Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science (LRCFS). Visitors will also have the opportunity to see the laboratories where the University’s ground breaking forensic science research is carried out.

The Evidence Chamber is the world premiere of a piece of live theatre which sees the audience perform the role of jurors in a murder trial, and will take place at Dundee Sheriff Court on the same day. It has been designed by the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science (LRCFS) and the ex-theatre company FanSHEN to raise questions about how we respond to the presentation and communication of different types of evidence, its presentation, and how our preconceptions can affect decisions.

Prof Niamh Nic Daeid, Director of LRCFS, said, “It is so important that when our juries are making decisions about a person’s guilt or innocence, they understand the science put before them and we are delighted to be able to present new ways of making science accessible to the public within the criminal justice context as part of the Festival of the Future.”

Fans of crime fiction are set for a double treat at this year’s Festival, with Mark Billingham, Chris Brookmyre, Stuart Neville, Luca Veste and Doug Johnstone talking about their astonishing array of bestselling novels and the writers who have inspired them on Friday 18 October. The Writing Crime Fiction event will be followed that evening by a live performance when the five authors take to the stage as the band Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers and begin Murdering Songs for Fun.

Also taking place will be a lunchtime debate on The Future of Criminal Justice and Human Rights on Wednesday 16 October. A panel of leading University academics who work in the areas of criminal justice and human rights will discuss subjects ranging from oral health programmes in prisons to challenges in the relationship between forensic science and the justice system. Following the discussion there will be the opportunity to put questions to the panel.

Each day of the programme will feature events aimed at children, young people and adults, debates with academics and external speakers and high-profile events featuring prestigious figures from the worlds of science and culture.

More information about this year’s Festival can be found at www.dundee.ac.uk/futurefest.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 384768
Mobile: 07854 953277
Email: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk