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21 May 2004
A Forensic Medicine & Science Forum will be held on Friday 28 May 2004 at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. This Forum marks the culmination of Dr Paula Summerly's Forensic Medicine Archives Project (FMAP), hosted by the University of Glasgow Archives Services and funded through the Wellcome Trust and British Library's 'Research Resources in Medical History Scheme'.
Dr Summerly explained: "As my work on this project developed, I was fascinated to see that many of the sophisticated techniques popularised by shows like C4's 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation' and BBC's 'Silent Witness' actually originated from the work of key forensic experts in Glasgow and Scotland. Their research forms the basis of so much of the work undertaken today by the police, forensic scientists and the legal profession.'
Terms which are now as familiar to the viewing public as to the experts who use them – fingerprinting, blood analysis, DNA profiling – have their origins in the pioneering work of forensic scientists such as two of the University's most notable Regius Professors, John Glaister Senior and Junior. Both father and son played an enormous role in the development of 'medical detection' – early forensics.
Glaister Junior was particularly fascinated by what he called, "the key of interchange" – the trace evidence that is left behind at any scene which proves that an encounter has taken place either between two or more people or a person in a room.
The Forum will bring together leading experts from all areas that are involved in the science of forensic medicine: Dr John Oliver, Head of the University's department; Dr Adrian Linacre of Strathclyde University's Forensic Unit; Chief Inspector Ian Hogg of Strathclyde Police Forensic Support and Donald Findlay QC who will offer 'A cynic's view of Forensic Medicine'
For further information or to register for the Forum, please see FMAP http://www.fmap.archives.gla.ac.uk/
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