From midnight (starting 26 May 2016) the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 comes into effect, aiming to stamp out the market in ‘legal highs’ or novel psychoactive substances. The Act, which has seen several delays this year, will make it an offence to import, sell, supply or produce any substance knowing that it…
Tag: research
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Reflecting and moving onwards
I think it is fair to say I am not unhappy to see the back on 2015 but I am really looking forward to 2016! I found 2015 to be a rather unfortunate and frustrating year, I had some major health difficulties which took three or four months out…
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Cognitive bias in Forensic Science
Forensic evidence needs to be considered impartially and without prejudice. Recently cognitive bias has become somewhat a buzzword in FS circles… Recently I read a slightly tongue in cheek tweet from an attendee at a Forensic Science conference along the lines of “you’re no-one if you don’t mention cognitive bias…
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AICAR – the get fit without exercise drug
Part three of the new doping mini series – this time AICAR. A drug to help lose weight, gain muscle and get fit even without exercise? This week I will take a look at AICAR… AICAR – full name aminoimidazole carboxamide riboside (also with the drug name acadesine) is a drug under development…
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New Years Resolutions from WeAreForensic
It’s that time of year. We look back over the past year and forward to the next – and make wild predictions about what the ‘New You’ will do in the New Year! I gave a broad review of 2012 in two parts. Now to look forward to 2013. …
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Forensic Science Research – ‘Accredited Provider’
Last week I summed up what I thought the current climate looked like in forensic science research. This provoked some discussion through LinkedIn and twitter, mostly agreement. I thought I would try and develop a couple of ideas of how we can move forward. Meet the ‘Accredited Forensic Research Provider’. At the bottom of my previous blog I suggested…
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Forensic Science Research – What Research?
On Monday I travelled down to London for the Forensic Science Society’s ‘Education and Industry Forum’ at the Home Office. I wanted to find out what the current state of play was and who is doing what? And crucially how do I get my hands on the money? The meeting…
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Methamphetamine lab children – exposed to drug fumes
In New Zealand there is a big methamphetamine problem. In the years from 2000 to 2009 the number of clandestine laboratories found and raided by Police increased from 9 to 135. In a third of these cases there are either children present when raided or who live at that…
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Caffeine in hair
Last year I had an undergraduate student investigate the analysis of caffeine in hair samples. The aim was to determine if there was a correlation between the amount of caffeine in the hair sample and the amount of caffeine drunk by the individual. The student produced a very good…
Why study Forensic Science? Undergraduates tell all…
Last week I decided to have a quick poll amongst my Forensic Science first year students. The academic year is in full swing, the students are settling into life as undergraduates and I wanted to know why were they here? What had made them chose to study forensic science? …