URI opens criminalistics course to public

Kingston, R.I. – January 31, 2008 – For the first time, the University of Rhode Island is making its criminalistics course free and open to the public. The lectures cover topics such as explosives, arson, and serology and DNA. The talks are held Wednesdays from 3:30 to 6 p.m. in Pastore Hall, Room 124.


The schedule is as follows:


• Feb. 6, Dennis Hilliard, director of Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory, “Physical Evidence.” He is co-director of URI’s Forensic Science Partnership.

• Feb. 13, Amy Duhaime of the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory, “Hair, Fibers and Paint.” Duhaime is a level three criminalist and the quality manager for the crime lab.

• Feb. 20, Robert Buco of Shimadzu Scientific Instruments Inc., “Chemical Analysis.”

• Feb. 27, Jimmie Oxley, a URI chemistry professor, “Toxicology.” Oxley is a world-renowned explosives and pyrotechnic expert and co-director of URI’s Forensic Science Partnership.

• Mar. 5, Mark Zabinski, a criminalist with the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory, “Fingerprints.”

• Mar.12, Mike Platek, electrical materials engineer in URI’s College of Engineering, “Microscope.”

• Mar. 26, Gino Rebussini, retired Rhode Island Department of Health Investigator, “Drugs.”

• Apr. 2, Skip Voorhees, manager of the Physical Science Unit of the U.S. Postal Service Laboratory in Dulles, Va., “Explosives.” His expertise includes using forensic science in mail-bombing investigations.

• Apr. 9, Robin Smith of the Rhode Island Forensic Laboratory, “Serology and DNA.” Her expertise is in the analysis of evidence related to violent sexual or homicidal crimes.

• Apr. 16, Amy Duhaime of the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory, “Arson.”

• Apr. 23, Megan Murasso, of the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory, “Tool Marks and Firearms.” Murasso is a 2006 URI graduate and is now attending graduate school at the University of New Haven and will graduate this spring with a master’s degree in forensic science.