Syllabus

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The course deals with the application of geological and related principles to the solution of various types of crimes. The cases will be both modern and ancient. Each class meeting (or meetings, depending on the complexity of the case) will be devoted to the solution of a particular crime. For each case, the basic principles required to solve the crime will be developed. This is a studio-type course and each class will involve observation and collection of data and the analysis of the data. For each case the student will write a paper outlining the evidence and the analysis used to arrive at the student's conclusions. As part of the course the student will read a novel in which forensic geology is used and will write a paper on the scientific aspects of the novel.

Unlike television's CSI series, most crimes are not murders or other heinous acts. In this course we will look at a variety of criminal acts. Examples are the death of the iceman (a prehistoric crime), Civil Action (an environmental crime), art forgery, substitution of materials during transport (theft), etc. In these cases we are trying to determine the perpetrators or location of the crime using geological evidence. Such evidence includes the nature of the geologic material (identification of rocks and minerals) using both visual and instrumental evidence, the nature of soil materials, the chemistry of the geologic material as an aid to identifying the source of the material, geophysical techniques used to probe the subsurface, etc. We will also develop and discuss the proper techniques for handling evidence and the issue of chain-of-custody.

GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION:

Attendance is mandatory for all classes. Except in the case of personal illness or an unanticipated family crisis, both of which must be substantiated, the student must seek prior approval from the instructor for a class absence. Given the nature of the course, it will be extremely difficult to make-up a missed class.

The student's attention is called to the definitions and regulations regarding cheating and plagiarism. The instructor shall assign a grade of zero to a paper if he determines that cheating and/or plagiarism has occurred. This decision is not subject to negotiation.

TEXT:

There is no assigned textbook for the course. A suggested supplemental text is

Murray, Raymond C. (2004) Evidence from the Earth - Forensic Geology and Criminal Investigation. Mountain Press Publishing Company, 226 p. ISBN: 0-87842-498-9

The novel you will read, and report on, is

Andrews, Sarah (2004) Earth Colors (paperback). St. Martin's Paperbacks, 332 p. ISBN: 0-312-99770-1

These books can be purchased at bookstores or online.

We will be making measurements and doing computations. A basic electronic calculator will be a useful tool.

GRADING POLICY:

Your grade will be determined as follows:

Two Exams @10 pts. each = 20 pts. The exams are scheduled for March 4 and April 29.

Class exercises = 40 pts.

Written report for each case and the book report = 40 pts.

CONTACTING THE INSTRUCTOR:

The instructor's Office Hours are M-W-F from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Additional hours are available by appointment. The instructor's office is Room 302b in the Olney building. If you have problems, or want to make an appointment, you can reach me either by telephone, 978-934-3907 (I have voice mail) or better yet by e-mail, Nelson_Eby@uml.edu. I log on to my e-mail account when I come in each day and thus will get your message first thing in the morning.