Product Description

Practical Skills in Forensic Science is designed specifically to support and develop the complete range of practical skills which are essential to success in Forensic Science courses. This range of skills includes work in practicals and laboratory sessions, and also relates to projects, study skills and assessments, exam revision, time management, and even how to put together a CV. The authors provide a concise and user-friendly guide, which will help students to focus on how to perform as effectively as possible in their course.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #68910 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-10
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 516 pages

From the Back Cover

This is the ‘one-stop’ guide you need to help you through all practical aspects of your forensic science course.

Becoming a forensic scientist depends on developing a wide range of practical skills, ranging from those required to observe, measure and record accurately, to those associated with operating up-to-date analytical equipment. You will also need broader skills, for example, in relation to teamwork and study. Practical Skills in Forensic Science provides an easy-to-read guide to help you develop the skills you need to succeed.

This text provides comprehensive coverage of the necessary skills, including aspects of chemistry, biology and physics, as well as relevant aspects of law.

Key features:

• Presents information in a concise and user-friendly manner, helping you to master and practice key techniques.
• Designed as a practical aid to learning, with margin tips and hints, definitions, and worked examples. These help guide you through the content and are engaging to read.
• Uses ‘How to’ boxes which set out the essentials in a step-by-step manner, helping you to understand techniques in context.
• Provides practical advice on specific techniques, including taking fingerprints and DNA analysis, as well as broader skills, such as tackling numerical problems and passing exams.
• Uses illustrations and tables to help you navigate the information.
• Provides key sources of further study for every topic, including printed and online material, guiding you on where to go for your research.
• Includes case examples, guidelines for reporting results and advice on the legal aspects of forensic science, providing you with a grounding in the realities of becoming a forensic scientist.

Who is this book for?

Practical Skills in Forensic Science is an indispensable book for undergraduate students taking forensic science degree programmes and for those following related courses such as forensic chemistry.  It will also be highly useful to students taking modules in forensic analysis or crime scene investigation as part of a broader programme, or a joint degree course. It represents a valuable resource for postgraduate students working in this area, and lecturers should find it an effective way to supplement information given in practical sessions.

About the authors

Alan Langford is Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader in Forensic Sciences, John Dean is Associate Dean (Research), Rob Reed is Head of Biomedical Sciences and David Holmes is Director of Academic Development in Applied Sciences, all at Northumbria University.  Jonathan Weyers is Senior Lecturer and Director, Learning Enhancement Unit and Allan Jones is Senior Lecturer in Biology and Environmental Sciences, Life Sciences Teaching Unit, both at the University of Dundee.

Customer Reviews

A little gem!!!
I requested this book for xmas last year to help me in my forensic science degree and to be honest didn't expect it to help with any of my assignments. I was however delighted to discover that it was invaluable. As well as step by step instructions for a variety of laboratory techniques, there is a wealth of background information to the methods and tests I used which I failed to find anywhere else. As a result I gained a first in my practical skills for the laboratory module and owe it to this book.

greatful
What a useful book, easy to understand and easily set out. After doing my degree in forensic and criminology, I went on to do a masters in straight forensic science. This book was the one thing that got me through the chemisty module (I'd not done any chemstry for 30 years). It is invaluable and has been in use continuously for all my assignments.

Really well laid out book for forensic practical skills
The book is very useful for forensic chemistry practical sessions and it contains different types of laboratory methods such as chromatography