AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the module students will be able to demonstrate:

a) a general understanding of the “crime scene investigation” process;

b) a general knowledge of the biological/natural discipline applied to the forensic context;

c) a general understanding of the impact of insects in the human and animal life (eg.: food contamination, diseases spread, etc.);

d) a detailed knowledge about the role of the insect in body decomposition and their use in the estimation of the post mortem interval;

e) a general knowledge about the role of DNA alysis in the forensic contexts such as violent crimes, crimes agains the natural heritage and illegal trade and frauds. 

In addition students will be able to:

a) select the most appropiate biological disciplines depending on the forensic scenario;

b) identify the main insects associated with a body decomposition;

c) estimate, critically the PMI using the entomological method;

d) Identify the most important entomological taxa associated with food;

e) put in the correct context the utility of DNA analysis.

TEACHING METHODS

The module teaching is based on lectures and work group. Attendance to lectures and practical group activities is not mandatory, but strongly recommended.
Lectures are delivered with multimedia supports.
During the first term, lectures will be potentially delivered in presence, however online attendance will be guaranteed with synchronous or asynchronous registration. Practicals will be delivered in presence. In case of a big class it will be slit in smaller groups. 
All the in-presence activities will be delivered according to the university and national rules related with the COVID-19 emergency.
Because of the current COVID-19 emergency, students are invited to check regularly the module website (AulaWeb ) to be updated on any teaching variation.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The module will present the foloowing topics: 
• the forensic process (crime scene, evidence, etc);
• the forensic sciences;
• insects of forensic interest;
• waves of colonization and the PMI estimation;
• crime against the wildlife and the environment;
• Role of DNA in crime investigation and other legal issues.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Al the teaching material wil be available on the module website (Aulaweb). Books are available in the library or can be visioned in the lecturers' office.
The follwoing books are suggested:
-Tilstone, W.J.; Hastrup, M.L.; Hald, C. 2012 Fisher’s Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, First International Edition. CRC Press.
-Gunn A. Essential Forensic Biology  2019, 3rd edition, Willey.
-David B. Rivers, Gregory A. Dahlem 2014. The Science of Forensic Entomology. Willey Blackwell .