URI initiates series of lectures in forensic science

KINGSTON, R.I.-- September 15, 1999 -- The University of Rhode Island is offering a new seminar course, Forensic Science Overview, which began this month and runs through December.

It features international authorities and is one of the first efforts of the URI Forensic Science Partnership, a collaboration of the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory, which is based at URI's College of Pharmacy, the other colleges at URI, the state Department of Health, the state's law enforcement community, and the insurance industry. The $150,000 in seed money from the University in the first year will fund course development, faculty seminars and research projects.

The first lecture is set for Thursday, Sept. 16 at 4 p.m. at Pastore Hall, Room 234. The discussion will be, "Why a Graduate Degree Program in Forensic Science?" The speaker will be Peter R. DeForest, a professor of criminalistics, Department of Sciences, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service at Newport presents, "Counterintelligence Threat to Computer Systems" on Friday, Sept. 17 at 3 p.m. in the Cherry Auditorium in the Kirk Engineering Building. The talk will outline threats to automated information systems from the internet and the outside. The presenter is Special Agent Kevin Glynn, who will address hackers, cyber assailants, corporate espionage, foreign intelligence exploitation and internal espionage threat, and operations security.

David Uliss, of the Rhode Island Department of Health will offer a tour of the Rhode Island Forensic Lab on Thursday, Sept. 23.

S. Frank Platek of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, will discuss "Applications of Scanning Electron Microsopy and Dispersive X-ray Analysis to Forensic Cases and Research Related to Food Product and Pharmaceutical Tampering and Counterfeiting" on Friday, Sept. 24.

The lecture will be from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Cherry Auditorium of the Chester Kirk Engineering Building.

The seminars continue each Thursday at 4 p.m. through Dec. 9. See schedule as follows:

Sept. 30, "An Overview of Forensic Examinations at the FBI," Allyson Simons of the FBI.

Oct. 7, "Textile Analysis in Forensic Investigations," by Randy Bresee of the University of Tennessee.

Oct. 14, "Forensic Engineering," Marc Richman of Brown University.

Oct. 21, "Forensic Analysis of Mitrochondrial DNA," Connie Fisher of the FBI.

Oct. 28, "Forensic Science in the Next Century," Carrie Whitcomb of the University of Central Florida.

Nov. 4, "Investigations of Explosions: A United Kingdom Perspective," Maurice Marshall, of the Defence Research Agency.

Nov. 18, "Firearms Analysis," Mary Lou Fultz, of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Dec. 2, "Explosive Standards," Kathy Higgins, of the National Institute of Standards and Testing.

Dec. 9, "Toxicology," Guy Vallaro of the University of Massachusetts.

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For Further Information: Dave Lavallee 401-874-2116