Table of Contents

Preface Acknowledgements Study and examination skills 1. The importance of transferable skills 2. Managing your time 3. Working with others 4. Taking notes 5. Revising 6. Assessments and exams 7. Preparing your curriculum vitae Information technology and library resources 8. Finding and citing published information 9. Evaluating information 10. Using the Internet and World Wide Web 11. Using spreadsheets 12. Word processors, databases and other packages Communicating information 13. Organising a poster display 14. Oral presentations. 15. General aspects of scientific writing 16.Writing essays, literature surveys and reviews 17. Reporting practical and project work 18. Writing a forensic report The Investigative approach 19. Making and recording measurements 20. Making observations, drawing diagrams and taking photographs 21. SI units and their use 22. Scientific method and design of experiments 23. Project work Crime scene investigation 24. Collecting evidence - basic principles. 25. Investigating footprints 26. Investigating fingerprints 27. Investigating toolmarks Fundamental laboratory techniques 28. Your approach to practical work 29. Health & safety 30. Working with liquids 31. Basic laboratory procedures 32. Principles of solution chemistry 33. pH and buffer solutions 34. Introduction to microscopy 35. Setting up and using microscopes Analytical techniques 36. Sample preparation 37. Immunoassay 38. Electrophoresis 39. Chromatography basic principles 40. Gas and liquid chromatography 41. Basic spectroscopy 42. Atomic spectroscopy 43. X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy 44. Infrared spectroscopy 45. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometry 46. Mass spectrometry Quantitative analysis 47. Quantitative chemical analysis - fundamental principles 48. Calibration and its approach to quantitative analysis Forensic chemistry 49. Alcohol analysis 50. Bulk drugs analysis 51. Analysis of glass 52. Analysis of paint 53. Toxicological analysis of biological fluids 54. Analysis of fires and explosives 55. Analysis of firearms 56. Document analysis Forensic biology 57. Hair analysis 58. Fibre analysis 59. Analysis of biological fluids 60. DNA analysis fundamental principles 61. DNA analysis forensic applications 62. Analysis of skeletal remains 63. Forensic odontology 64. Forensic entomology 65. Forensic botany Analysis and presentation of data 66. Using graphs 67. Presenting data in tables 68. Hints for solving numerical problems 69. Descriptive statistics 70. Choosing and using statistical tests Index

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Guides students through the complete range of practical skills needed to succeed in this course -- from general transferable skills to advanced technical skills -- as well as helping them to develop critical thinking and good study practice.