[This is a certified Communication-intensive (Ci) Course which meets all of the requirements endorsed by HKU’s Senate, including i) the teaching and assessment of visual and digital communication ‘literacies’; and ii) at least 40% of the course grade assigned to communication-rich assessment tasks.]

Course Description

This course introduces students to the scientific, legal and ethical concepts that underpin forensic science. Forensic science spans all scientific disciplines such as anthropology, biology, chemistry, computing, medicine, physics, etc. Students will explore and develop an understanding of the principles of forensic science through an overview as well as more topic-specific lectures, and experience hands-on tutorials involving scientific analysis of forensic evidence. Knowledge gained will be applied and assessed through individual tasks as well as a collaborative project on an assigned case.

Course Learning Outcomes

On completing the course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of the basic rules that define science and apply them to crime investigation.
2. Analyze and integrate various sources of data and understand their validity and limitations when used to support or negate a hypothesis.
3. Display communication and collaboration skills in working with students from different backgrounds.
4. Demonstrate awareness of the importance of professional standards and ethical practices.
5. Recreate the crime scene by accurately and coherently interpreting scientific evidence, and communicate the findings effectively in visual and written means.

Offer Semester and Day of Teaching

Second semester (Wed)