Elemental
and Isotopic Analysis of Forensic Evidence “Hands-on” Workshop –
Dept. of
Chemistry and Biochemistry and International Forensic Research Institute
Partly
sponsored by the Natural Isotopes and Trace Elements in
CRIMinalistics and Environmental forensics (NITECRIME) network
Aim:
The aim is to
train the participants to use trace elements and isotopes to analyze forensic
samples and to interpret and present the data produced.
There will be a workshop during the week of
Feb. 14-18, 2005 in Miami, Florida on the campus of the Florida International
University. A maximum of 10 students will be permitted to register. The cost of
the workshop will be $ 750./student for tuition.
Accommodation costs are expected to be ~ $ 89./night
per person. These workshops are partly sponsored by the EU funded NITECRIME
network.
The workshops will include theory and
practice lectures and laboratory exercises. The instrumentation available
includes three (3) ICP-MS systems (Agilent 4500+, PE SCIEX DRCII and a Thermo
Element 2 High Resolution). There will also be two different laser ablation
systems (CETAC 266 and a New Wave 213) available for solid sampling.
Additionally demonstrations will be given on the use of IRMS for the analysis
of forensic samples.
The target audience are practicing forensic
scientists and researchers in forensic applications that either currently have
access to IRMS, ICP-AES, ICP-MS and/or LA-ICP-MS or are in the process of obtaining
access to any of these instruments. Participants will also be able to get
involved with IRMS techniques. Laboratory scientists that supervise trace
evidence sections that will consider the use of these methods in the future are
also invited to apply for registration.
NOTE. It is requested that
all participants bring along a laptop computer for data analysis!
Program
description
The requirement to uniquely
characterise and compare physical evidence from fraud and environmental
casework and crime scenes is a major task in forensic science. Trace element
and natural isotope profiles can assist in this process. New developments in
instrumentation have created exciting possibilities for the routine
"non-destructive" isotope and trace-element analysis of small and
valuable specimens. Specialists from the NITECRIME Network
(www.nitecrime.eu.com) will give an introduction on how to use trace elements
and natural isotopic profiles to verify the authenticity and/or origin of raw
materials, industrial products and materials, illegal drugs, foodstuffs, and
human remains. Special attention will be given to the origin of trace element
and isotopic variations in nature, the pro and cons of analytical systems and
data presentation and interpretation.
NITECRIME is an acronym for
“Natural Isotopes and Trace Elements in CRIMinalistics and Environmental
forensics”. It is an EU funded global network for developing and validating
state of the art analytical methods and for disseminating these methods and
practices to relevant users. Member
organizations consist of forensic laboratories (FBI, BKA,
The methods developed in the
network are used to identify characteristic inorganic fingerprints not only
from classical forensic materials like glass and bullets but also from food
products, precious metals and human remains. Additionally the network is
developing guidelines on how to interpret the multivariate data and how to
present the results to a legal audience.
Educational objectives (upon completion of this workshop, the
participant should be able to): understand the basic principles of trace
elemental and isotopic analysis, become aware of how these methods can be
applied to forensic science and learn how to access these methods for their own
work.
Impact on the Forensic
Community and/or Humanity: The overall impact of the workshop is expected to
result from a better understanding of the application of these sophisticated
methods to evidence analyses. Workshop participants will be exposed to a number
of techniques and methods that can be immediately applied to improve the value
of scientific evidence.
Topics and Instructors
9.15
am – 10.00 am Variation of trace elements and isotopes in nature
Jurian Hoogewerff, Ph.D.
10.00
am - 10.45 am Instrumentation
Christopher Latkoczy,
Ph.D.
10.45
am-11.00 am Coffee/Tea Break
11.00
am-11.40 pm Trace Elemental Analysis of
Glass
Jose R. Almirall, Ph.D.
11.40
am-12.15 pm Trace Elemental Analysis of
Paint
Tatiana Trejos, M.S.
12.15
pm-1.15 pm Lunch Break
1.15
pm -2.00 pm Trace Elemental Analysis of
Precious Metals and
Gemstones John Watling, Ph.D.
2.00
pm- 2.45 pm Isotopes and Trace Elements in Food Authentication
Simon Kelly, Ph.D.
2.45
pm- 3.20 pm Environmental Forensic Analysis
Stewart Walker, Ph.D.
3.20
pm-3.35 pm Coffee/Tea Break
3.35
pm-4.20 pm Elemental and Isotope Ratio
Analysis in Human
Authentication Ken Pye, Ph.D.
4.20
pm – 5.00 pm Chemometrics and Data Presentation
Shirly Montero, Ph.D.
Program
Monday, Feb. 14 (Introduction to theory and forensic applications) Overview of Instrumentation and group formation (4-5 groups of 2 students will be formed)
Tuesday, Feb. 15 (Demonstration of instrument operation and measurements of standards) (Glass, metals and paint analysis)
Wednesday, Feb. 16 (Sample measurements and data analysis)
Thursday, Feb. 17 (Sample measurements, data analysis and interpretation)
Friday, Feb. 18 (1/2 day) (data analysis, interpretation and presentation)
Note:
Registration Deadline is Jan. 7, 2005.