According to Dennis Hilliard, director of the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory, “this twice-a-week schedule is a result of the criminalistics course being offered this semester. The course incorporates the seminar series as part of its requirements.”
The program provides a chance for students, faculty and the public to develop a better understanding of the methods used to solve and prevent crimes.
Seminars will be held every week on Wednesday and Friday from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Room 124 of Pastore Hall, 51 Lower College Road, Kingston. All are free and open to the public.
The schedule is as follows:
• Feb. 8, Jim Smith, professor of chemistry at the University of Rhode Island, “Analysis.”
• Feb. 10, Victor Fay-Wolfe, professor of computer science and statistics at the University of Rhode Island, “Computer Forensics.”
• Feb. 15, Mike Platek, lab manager of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Rhode Island, “Microscopy.”
• Feb. 17 and 22, Dr. Gino Rebussini, professor of environmental science at Roger Williams University, “Drugs.”
• Feb. 24, Walter Williams, criminalist from the Bureau of Criminal Identification Unit of the Warwick Police Department, “Blood Before the Laboratory.”
• Feb. 29, Amy Duhaime, criminalist at the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory, “Hairs, Fibers, and Paint.”
• March 2 and 7, Dr. Virginia Maxwell, professor of chemistry and forensics at the University of New Haven, “Glass, Soil and other Trace.”
• March 9, Mark Zabinski, criminalist at the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory, “Fingerprints.”
• March 21 and 23, Michael Nolan, certified fire investigator and senior fire analyst at NEFCO Fire Investigations, “Fire Investigation.”
• March 28, Jimmie Oxley, professor of chemistry at the University of Rhode Island, “Explosives.”
• March 30, Wade C. Myers, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University professor and director of forensic psychiatry at the Department of Psychiatry in Rhode Island Hospital, “Insanity Defense.”
• April 4, Mark Zabinski, criminalist at the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory, “Fingerprints.”
• April 6 and 11, Cara Lupino, supervisor at the Rhode Island Department of Health forensic lab, “DNA/Forensic Biology.”
• April 13 and 18, Laurie Ogilvie, supervisor at the Rhode Island Department of Health forensic laboratory, “Forensic Toxicology.”
• April 20, Jim Streeter, owner and president of North East Forensics, LLC in Conn., “Questioned Documents.”
• April 25, John Killian, sergeant of the Rhode Island State Police Computer Crimes Unit, “Computer Crime Investigation.”
• April 27, Jim Taricani, veteran, award winning investigative reporter for WJAR-TV, NBC 10, “Investigative Reporting.”
This press release was written by Victoria Antonelli, a journalism major interning in the Department of Communications and Marketing.