Expert Focus Dr Christopher Aris is a Lecturer in Bioscience on the Forensic Science BSc course at Wrexham Glyndŵr University. Here he gives us some insight into this fascinating course…
How did you get into Forensic Science?
applicants to show us who they are as a person and tell us
Growing up I was fascinated with science, but I was not your
what they’ve done outside of education that is relevant.
typical A* student and being dyslexic I wasn’t suited to the traditional style of exam-board examinations. I did alright
What type of work are you involved with outside of the
in my GCSEs and A-levels, but it meant that when I wanted
programme?
to approach science at a university level I needed to be
I am trustee for the British Association for Biological
more tactical, so I decided to study biological anthropology
Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology which is the overarching
for my undergraduate degree. It’s basically the study of
governing body for those topics. My work with them is mainly
human biology but also brings in elements of history and
focused on ensuring the use of human remains in both
environmental studies which fit well with my passion
teaching and research is done ethically across the UK. I always
for science and style of learning. One of the modules that
try to get students involved in my outside work depending
really sparked my interest was human osteology which is
on the context of it. When I’m working with archaeology units
the study of skeletons and bone. I decided to pursue it at
and there’s an opportunity to, I will have students assist me
a postgraduate level and through completing my master’s
doing post excavation work on the skeletal remains, showing
in human osteology, I was exposed to the world of forensic
them how to clean the bones, profile them and report on their
anthropology. I started developing my skills to start profiling
findings. Although it’s not forensic, there is so much crossover
skeletons and identifying human vs non-human bones when
between archaeological and forensic remains. We also do a
I realised I could apply it to forensics. I went on to complete
lot of work with Poulton Research Project which is a local
my PhD, became a certified Forensic Anthropologist and now
archaeological research facility where our students have the
teach on the Forensic Science BSc at Glyndŵr, specialising in
opportunity to go and work with them on excavations to learn
forensic skeletal analysis.
how to unearth and analyse remains.
What can students expect from your course?
What opportunities are open to students after they
The course has a real emphasis on practical application, so
graduate?
instead of sitting at their computers writing essays all day,
Our students don’t just graduate with a degree, because of
our students are far more likely to be out in the field or in
the practical elements of the course they graduate not only
the lab. We offer a foundation year for the course, so that’s
being able to say that they have a BSc in Forensic Science
when we do a lot more of the theory work and build up the
but that they have been trained in osteological analysis,
students understanding. The foundation and first year are
dissection, crime scene investigation, botany and so much
heavily focused on guaranteeing our students have that core
more. Whey they go for forensic science jobs they can look at
understanding and are on the same level with their theoretical
specialisations across the spectrum and they will have the
knowledge so they can move onto the practical elements. We
practical skills to support them. Our students can also look at
then have them in the lab studying human remains, putting
potentially climbing the academic ladder as we offer an MRes
that theoretical understanding to use and spending hours
in Forensic Anthropology and Bioarcheology which is the next
and hours handling the bone. We have our students out on
step into my specialisation.
campus dragging mock bodies around to bring back to the lab to analyse the leaves that it has picked up, how they can be
What does Wrexham Glyndŵr University have to offer?
identified and figuring out how the body has been moved.
Our accessibly. We’re a university that responds to what’s going on in the wider world and adapts it to our student’s
How can students get a place on the programme?
needs. Over the last two years throughout the pandemic we’ve
We have our basic entry requirements which you can find
adapted to a blended learning approach and developed it as
on our website, but we’re really looking for some exposure to
we’ve seen students benefitting from it. It allows students from
science from our applicants. It doesn’t have to be too in depth,
different background and situations to have some flexibility
but it needs to be at Level 3 or the equivalent. We’re especially
with their timetable and only come in one to two days a week
looking to see applicants who can show more of themselves
and focus on their practical work and then complete the
than just their grades. We’re a small, specialised team and we
theory work at their own pace. They’re not losing out on of the
get to know our students by name, what their interests are and
practical experience but it makes it easier for them to complete
where their specialities are potentially going to lie. We want
their modules around their personal responsibilities. n
NWM 2021 Page 77
