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CSI Inverness: World-renowned expert returns home for exclusive lecture and workshop

Professor Sue Black with a group of students at Inverness College UHI.
Professor Sue Black with a group of students at Inverness College UHI.

CSI came to the Highland capital when a world-renowned expert came back to her home town for an exclusive lecture and workshop.

The complex science of forensic investigation – made popular by the American television series CSI – came under the magnifying glass when Professor Dame Sue Black spoke to students and staff at Inverness College UHI.

Professor Black, a leading forensic anthropologist from the Centre of Anatomy and Human Identification at the University of Dundee, led an investigation into a previously unseen medical teaching skeleton borrowed from Moray College UHI.

When they analysed the remains, the students discovered that the skeleton was from a male, likely of Indian origin, aged between 18 and 25 years old and around 5ft 4ins in height. They also found out that he may have died from a blood-borne condition more than 100 years ago.

Organised by college lecturer Jane Manson, the event was open to science students completing a wide range of qualifications including Highers, National 5 and HNC Applied science. It was particularly interesting for the Introduction to Science students on the Forensic Application unit as, during their course, they explore aspects of crime scene investigation including finger printing, DNA and blood testing, as well as chemical and road traffic accident analysis.

Jane said: “We were extremely excited to have the professor lead this workshop and the students thoroughly enjoyed the day. She introduced the session with an insight into working as a forensic anthropologist and the students were then shown how to examine the skeleton to find out its history. Nothing was known about the skeleton beforehand so it was a real hands-on event.”

Professor Black added: “I had the most marvellous experience at Inverness College UHI. The students were incredibly engaged and it was fascinating to watch their attitudes change from viewing an unidentified skeleton at the outset, and then as he began to morph and take on a more familiar persona. They rose to the challenge with tremendous professionalism and I was singularly impressed by their maturity and social empathy towards this unfortunate young man.”