KINGSTON, R.I. — January 28, 2008 — The University Of Rhode Island’s Forensic Science Seminar Series is under way, and includes such topics as SUV rollover accidents, serial killers and Internet security. The talks are held Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Pastore Hall, Room 124. The seminars are free and open to public.

The schedule is as follows:

• Feb. 1, Steve Batzer, director of The Engineering Institute, of Farmington, Ariz., “Forensic Engineering Analysis of SUV Rollover Accidents.” His expertise is in Vehicle crashworthiness – roof and glazing, metallurgy and materials science, accident reconstruction and occupant kinematics.

• Feb. 8, David Thacher, Crime Lab Associate, “Metal Detection at Crime Scenes.”

• Feb. 15, Virginia Maxwell, professor at the University of New Haven, “Glass and Soil.” Her expertise is in trace evidence where she works with the Connecticut State Crime Laboratory.

• Feb. 22, Walt Williams, civilian criminalist of the Warwick Police Department, “Introduction to Blood Splatter Analysis.” His expertise includes collecting evidence and preparing it for court and recreating the sequence of events within crime scenes.

• Feb. 29, Gerry Durand a veteran detective of the bureau of criminal identification at the Woonsocket Police, “Woonsocket serial killer.”

• Mar. 7, Lawrence Filippelli, principal of Scituate Middle School, “Internet security.”

• Mar. 14, Kenneth Zercie assistant director of the Connecticut State Crime Laboratory, “Reconstruction/Document Examination.”

• Mar. 28, Gino Rebussini retired Dept. of Health Investigator “Drugs.”

• Apr. 4, Skip Voorhees, manager of the Physical Science Unit of U.S. Postal Service Laboratory in Dulles, Va., “Fraud Investigation.” His expertise includes using forensic science to investigate mail-bombing investigations.

• Apr. 11, Michael Bourke, combined DNA index system (CODIS) administrator at the Connecticut State Crime Laboratory, “DNA.” His expertise includes matching forensic evidence from crime scenes to the DNA profiles of felons.

• Apr. 18, Kirk Yeager from the FBI explosives unit, “Investigating Bomb Scenes.” His expertise includes tackling crime scenes where explosives have been used.

• Apr. 25, Rob Buco, of Shimadzu Scientific Instruments Inc., “Mass Spectroscopy.”