Saturday 30 April 2016

Job Training.

University of SaskatchewanUniversity of AlbertaUniversity of Calgary
    While forensic botanists may be trained by the FBI or other agencies, most graduate from universities. Some universities in Canada that offer botanical courses include the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Alberta, and the University of Calgary. A degree in botany often includes the following work:
  • Environmental Appreciation
  • Plant Form and Function
  • Career Planning for Botanists
  • Plant Genetics
  • Evolutionary Survey of Plants
  • Plant Physiology
  • Introduction to Natural Resource Management
  • Biology of the Plant Cell
  • Soils
  • Plant Ecology
  • Plant Geography
  • Mycology (the study of fungi)
  • Algology (the study of algae)
  • Plant Evolution
  • Cell Culture
  • Topics in Botany
  • Advanced Field Botany
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Quantitative Analysis
  • College Physics                                                                                                                         
Dr. Karl Harrison, Lead forensic archaeologist at Alecto Forensics, also told me a bit about the training required to be a forensic botanist. He said, "We tend to divide the use of plants in forensic science into three different types of work. Forensic botany is the study of macroscopic plant traces Forensic palynology is the study of pollen. We’re surrounded by a ‘rain’ of microscopic pollen (especially at this time of year). The pollen falls and settles on things, but it also builds up on the ground. So if we analyse soils, we can look at the pollen within it as well as the geology of the minerals in the soil.The last type of forensic botany is forensic limnology, which is the study of diatoms (microscopic water plants that form algae colonies in streams and lakes). We use them when we’re trying to match people to bodies of water.

"Each one of the three is done by a different type of specialist, so someone who can identify dozens of species of plants by their pollen might not know what they all look like when they see them growing!

 "So the training of each of these three specialisms is a bit different. Generally the would have a first degree (a BSc) in plant biology and a post graduate degree (an MSc or doctorate) in a similar subject. They probably won't have any qualifications in forensic science itself, or in crime scene examination. We [at Alecto Forensics] can give them that experience.

 "It's important for us that a forensic botanist understands the restrictions of working on crime scenes and with forensic evidence, so we need to train them to understand the importance of exhibit continuity (signing to take possession of police exhibits), the risk of contamination (like spreading their own DNA onto exhibits), and how to give evidence in court- both by writing reports and standing up to be cross-examined by barristers. As important as qualifications are, so is the experience you have . We would normally write how many years experience of forensic work, or how many cases of a particular type we have, so it takes a long time to complete your training for the job." 
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