A public lecture on the UC Santa Cruz campus on Wednesday, January 28, will address some of the myths that have emerged about the profession of forensic anthropology. The UCSC Sigma Xi Lecture, which will begin at 8 p.m. in Classroom Unit 2, will feature Alison Galloway, of UCSC's Anthropology Department and chair of the Academic Senate.
Here are more details, provided by Joel Primack of UCSC's Physics Department:
The talk will attempt to address some of the myths that have emerged about the profession of forensic anthropology. Mostly these ideas of it as an occupation filled with glamour and adventure are gleaned from television and novels. The reality is a bit more mundane but has its own rewards.
Founded in 1886, Sigma Xi has 80,000 scientists and engineers as members, and publishes American Scientist magazine. Prof. Galloway is a Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer. She currently serves as consultant for Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus, Sacramento, Calaveras, Tuolumne, and Humboldt counties. Before coming to UCSC in 1990, she ran the University of Tennessee Forensic Anthropology Facility--popularly known as "The Body Farm"--and her research in the forensic areas focuses on the analysis of trauma and the decomposition of human bodies after death. She also does research on skeletal changes and bone metabolism and reproductive and skeletal interactions.
Event Description: Popular lecture by expert on forensic anthropology. Sponsored by: UCSC Chapter of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society. Audience: all are welcome, admission free. Contact for further information: Prof. Joel Primack, Physics Department, UCSC (joel@physics.ucsc.edu).
