Department of Forensic Science

Message from the Chair
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Department of Forensic Science at Laurentian University. Forensic Science education at Laurentian University began in 1998 with the Forensic Biology Option. With the advantage of having small class sizes, and professors who are practitioners and researchers in forensic science, we quickly distinguished ourselves as a premier, high quality, hands-on program. In 2004 Laurentian University lead the country with the establishment of a full, independent Department of Forensic Science. This means that the our department has its own dedicated research labs, teaching labs, curator, and professors and adjunct professors. We are the first in the country to have such dedicated resources. Additionally, we have the first Forensic Toxicology Research Laboratory and a dedicated Scanning Electron Microscope Laboratory in a Department of Forensic Science. In 2004, the Department of Forensic Science was the only program to have 4 distinct science degree forms: Honours Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science (Single Concentration) Honours Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science and Anthropology Honours Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science and Chemistry Honours Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science and Psychology
Dispelling the CSI myth....
All of our forensic science programs are based on the fact that first and foremost, we produce scientists. In Canada, the people who largely process crime scenes and collect evidence are Police Officers who receive their training from the Ontario Police College or Canadian Police College. Graduates from our various 4-year B.Sc. programs in Forensic Science and their related sub disciplines, are trained to be scientists who analyze evidence in their respective areas of expertise. Many areas of forensic science require further postgraduate training at the Masters and Doctoral levels. Regardless of which Forensic degree program you choose here at Laurentian, all of our graduates have received an education in forensic science that includes specially designed courses dealing with forensic science and the law (jurisprudence). It is important to remember that forensic science is the application of scientific principles and analytical techniques within a legal context. Forensic scientists constantly interact with police as well as prosecuting (Crown) and defense attorneys. Therefore, we include specific courses in each year of each of our programs designed to expose our students to the law and professional ethics as it applies to forensic scientists. These courses are unique to our program. In the fourth year of all forensic science programs our students have a capstone experience called “Investigative Techniques.” This fourth-year course is the culmination of all of the previous courses taught in the program in order for students to process evidence, conduct an analysis and present this evidence in a court of law. The presentation of forensic evidence in a court of law is the ultimate test of that evidence. This mock trial is adjudicated by an Ontario Superior Court Judge in a major courtroom.
Getting into the Forensic Science Program
Our students enter the Forensic Science Program directly from High School. This means that they do not apply for entry in second or third year of their university studies as at other institutions. However, if you start university in another program you may always apply for entry at any time. Once in the program, students take their forensic science courses along side their other science courses. As they proceed in the program, our forensic science courses build on the other sciences so that by fourth year our students are able to complete a research thesis or an internship that involves a placement with a related forensic agency.
What if English is not my first language?
If English is not your first language you may still enroll in the Forensic Science Program. There are many ways in which we can accommodate your needs to enhance your proficiency in English while studying for your Forensic Degree. Students who have more than one language are generally more likely to find employment. A Forensic degree, coupled with familiarity with more than one language will make your chances of finding employment, just that much more likely.
Francophone Students
Our program is ideal for students whose first language is French. Although our Forensic courses are taught in English, many of our required courses in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics may be taken in French. This combination permits Francophone students to pursue a portion of their degree in French, while taking their Forensic courses in English. Our Forensic Science program is unique in North America in this respect. Francophone students who need more help in English can take advantage of a variety of services provided by the University. Additionally, all department secretaries and front line office staff in the University are bilingual. By integrating your language skills with your forensic training your degree will permit you to be considered for many jobs in the Canadian Government that require bilingualism. For example, our bilingual students have had great success in gaining employment with agencies such as the RCMP Forensic Services partially due to the fact that they are able to communicate in both of Canada’s official languages. Forensic Scientists who were bilingual (French and English) played a pivotal role in the investigation of the Rwandan Genocide in the 1990’s.
Students with Other Languages
If your first language is neither French nor English, you are equally welcome to study Forensic Science at LU. Although you need to have some English, this is a perfect opportunity to improve you English language skills. Much of the scientific literature in forensic science is in English, French, Spanish or German. Having one or several of these languages will not only enhance your ability to find employment on the international market, but also permit you to keep up with advances in Forensic Science throughout the world. More and more, forensic science research is being published in Far Eastern languages such as Japanese, Mandarin, and even Cantonese. Forensic Science experts with such backgrounds are needed throughout the world. Forensic scientists who have worked around the world on human rights investigations can testify to the fact that having working knowledge in another language is very essential.
World Class Research
We are particularly proud of the fact that our fourth-year thesis students consistently produce research that is of a publishable nature. Our fourth-year thesis students have been first author on papers published in the *Journal of Forensic Science, Forensic Science International, and the Journal of Analytical Toxicology. Additionally, our thesis students attend the annual meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and present their research in the Young Forensic Scientist Forum Poster Session. Last year (2008) Laurentian University has the most student research posters of any undergraduate forensic science program* at that meeting. Have a look at our student publication page and see the exciting research our students have been doing in the areas of forensic chemistry, forensic toxicology, forensic entomology, and forensic anthropology, to name a few. This experience has been invaluable to our students who seek to go on to postgraduate degrees at the M.Sc. and Ph.D. level.
Careers
An important aspect of our program is that it is designed to open doors to a variety of career options. Although there is a varying demand for forensic scientists in government laboratories, the degree is not only geared to employment in forensic science. Our students have gone on to careers with the RCMP forensic services, RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police, Toronto Police Service, Greater Sudbury Police Service, to name a few. Other students have gone on to postgraduate training in Law School, Dental School, Medicine, Teacher’s College (Science), M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs in DNA, Forensic Anthropology, Forensic Toxicology, Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Psychology, Molecular Biology, postgraduate diploma in Genetics Technology, Forensic Nursing, Doctor of Veterinary Sciences, M.Sc. in Pathology Assistance.
Our Core Faculty
Finally, the credibility of any forensic science program is having *actual forensic scientists* who conduct research and consult on forensic cases for the crown or the defense and *have given evidence in court*.
Dr. James Watterson, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. DABFT
Dr. James Watterson is a Forensic Toxicologist who came to us after years of being at the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Toronto. Dr. Watterson is now the only forensic toxicologist at a University in Canada who is a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology. He is a holder of an NSERC research grant dealing with detecting drugs in bone, and was awarded a Canada Foundation for Innovation grant to acquire a Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer in support of this research. His lab also houses the newest alcohol breath testing equipment approved for use in Ontario, the Intoxylizer 8000C. As such, his lab is the first in the country to undertake breath to blood alcohol level research with this instrument. See Dr. Watterson’s Forensic Toxicology Laboratory webpage.
Dr. Gerard Courtin, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. Professor Emeritus
Dr. Gerard Courtin is our Forensic Botanist; one of the few in Canada. As a Professor Emeritus in our Department, Dr. Courtin is in constant demand by police agencies throughout Ontario to examine evidence of a botanical nature. Currently, all forensic botany specimens in Ontario are referred to Dr. Courtin. With over 40 years of experience in the examination of the flora of Ontario, Dr. Courtin is uniquely qualified to identify minute plant fragments in forensic contexts.
Prof. Tracy S. Oost, Hons. B.Sc. (Biology), Hons. B.Sc. (Anthropology), M.Sc. (Cand.)
Professor Tracy Oost is the curator of our teaching laboratory and a consulting forensic entomologist and forensic anthropologist. Professor Oost has conducted forensic entomological research and forensic consultations in many areas of Ontario. Together with Dr. Courtin and Dr. Fairgrieve, we have recently produced a DVD with Lighthouse Learning Media on *“Forensic Techniques for Human Remains”* that has been produced for instruction to police, coroners, medical examiners and other crime scene personnel.
Dr. Scott I. Fairgrieve, Hons. B.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., FAAFS and Department Chair
Dr. Fairgrieve is the Chair of the Department of Forensic Science and has been involved the forensic science education since his arrival at Laurentian University in 1991. He is the consulting forensic anthropologist to the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario through the Northeastern Forensic Pathology Unit. His area of specialization has dealt with the effects of fire on human skeletal remains and their interpretation. He is Director of the Forensic Osteology Laboratory and runs and maintains the Department’s Scanning Electron Microscopy Laboratory. Dr. Fairgrieve has acted as a forensic anthropology consultant for both prosecution and defense. More recently, Dr. Fairgrieve has consulted for the defense in high profile cases in the State of Wisconsin and Florida (currently, the State of Florida v. Casey Anthony, who stands accused of first degree murder of her daughter Caylee Anthony).
*Adjunct Professors*
The Department of Forensic Science is fortunate to have several Adjunct Professors who interact with our students, staff and professors on a regular basis.
Dr. Martin Queen, M.D. (DABFP) is one of the few forensic pathologists in Canada who have been certified by the American Board of Forensic Pathologists. He is the head of the Northeastern Forensic Pathology Unit based as the Sudbury Regional Hospital in Sudbury, Ontario. This is the regional referral centre for all forensic pathology matters in Northeastern Ontario. He regularly provides lectures to our students in the area of forensic pathology and instructs them during visits to view autopsies. Dr. Queen is also an assistant professor in the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
Mr. Edward Conroy is the lead partner in the prominent Sudbury law firm of Conroy, Trebb, Scott and Hurtubise LLP. Mr. Conroy is a native of Sudbury and a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School. He has been practicing law in Sudbury with an emphasis on criminal law for over fifty years. Besides being an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Forensic Science, Mr. Conroy is the Chancellor of Huntington University which is federated with Laurentian University. He regularly provides lectures to students in our jurisprudence courses.
Mr. James Rajotte is a Forensic Toxicologist based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Mr. Rajotte has been a practicing forensic toxicologist for the past 6 years, and is active in both criminal and coroner’s investigations in all matters pertaining to forensic toxicology. He has lectured to a variety of audiences, including police officers and academic institutions, and has provided expert witness testimony in criminal and coroner’s courts throughout Ontario.
Ms. Laura Gorczynski and Mr. Christopher House are Forensic Toxicologists based in Toronto, Ontario. Both Ms. Gorczynski and Mr. House have been practicing forensic toxicologists for the past 8 years, and are active in both criminal and coroner’s investigations in all matters pertaining to forensic toxicology. Ms. Gorczynski and Mr. House have lectured to a wide variety of audiences, including law enforcement, healthcare professionals and university groups, and have testified regularly in various legal proceedings throughout Ontario.
Mr. Rajotte, Ms. Gorczynski and Mr. House provide lectures in the senior course in Forensic Toxicology (FORS 4107), and conduct research in areas related to postmortem forensic toxicology and impaired driving.
Summary
As you can see from the above, we have a dynamic department with a dedicated staff and faculty. The success of our program is best measured by the success of our students. If you are considering us, come up to LU for a tour of our teaching and research labs. Talk to any of us and above all, talk to the students who are in the program. I think you will find that once you are here you know why we have students from across Canada and from around the world taking our program. Check out our new video on this website or through iTunesU. You may also want to listen to some of my podcasts on forensic science called “Forensic Facts©.” A world class forensic program is here. Come by some time and “Investigate Your Future.” Sincerely, Dr. Scott I. Fairgrieve, Chair Department of Forensic Science