KINGSTON – R.I – January 24, 2017 – Working at a forensic crime laboratory, investigating murders and defending or prosecuting suspects are a few of the topics that will be discussed during the University of Rhode Island’s Spring Forensic Science Seminar Series. Speakers and topics are subject to change.

All seminars are free and open to the public. They will be held on Fridays, starting Jan. 27, from 3:30 – 5PM. The seminars will be presented in the Richard E. Beaupre Center for Chemical and Forensic Science, 140 Flagg Road, room 100.

The speakers and the topics of their lectures are as follows:

 Jan. 27: Marc Tobias, investigative attorney and physical security specialist, “Security Threat from 3D Printing and Scanning Technology.”

 Feb. 3: Gerald Kagan, post-doctoral fellow and URI research chemist, “Working at the NYPD Forensic Lab.”

 Feb. 10: James Clift, a detective with the Providence Police Department who works in the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, “Crime Scene Processing in the City.”

 Feb.17: Tim Kupferschmid, chief of laboratories in the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner, “The Medical Examiner – Challenges for today and tomorrow.”

 Feb. 24: Tim White, investigative reporter at WPRI TV, “New England La Cosa Nostra.” White is also co-author of the book “The Last Good Heist” about a series of robberies by organized crime.

Mar. 3: Barbara Costello, professor of sociology at URI, “The Role of Friends in Crime and Conformity.” Costello specializes in criminology and is researching peer influence on deviant behavior.

 Mar. 10: Jack Levin, professor emeritus at Northeastern University, “Mass & Serial Murders.” Levin is co-director of the Brudnick Center on Violence and Conflict and was professor of sociology and criminology and wrote numerous books on crime.

 Mar. 24: Elaine Pagliaro, former director of the Connecticut State Forensic Laboratory and member of the Henry C. Lee Institute, “Post-conviction forensics.”

 Mar. 31: Judith Crowell, of the Judith Crowell Law Office, Providence, “Defending the Guilty.”

 Apr. 7: Roderick Kennedy, retired judge of the New Mexico Court of Appeals, “Forensic Science: Judicial Gate Keeping.” Judge Kennedy is internationally known for his expertise on the connection between law and science and is a member the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

 Apr. 14: Robert Foster, former U.S. Department of Justice trial attorney, “Forensic Science in Chemical Weapons Disposal.” Foster consults on expert evidence and forensic science.

 Apr. 21: Don Hayes, director of the Boston Police Department Crime Laboratory, “The Boston Strangler Case Revisited.” Hayes re-examined the evidence in this case using the latest DNA technology.

 Apr. 28: Maurice Marshall, from the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory in the United Kingdom, “Running a Large Forensic Explosive Lab.”

 Sarah Saltiel-Ragot, an intern in URI’s Department of Marketing and Communications, wrote this news release.