Forensic hair project wins funding

Edward O'Daly

3 June 2008: Hair found at crime scenes will be a more reliable source of evidence than ever before, with the announcement of a new University of Canberra research project.

Under a new round of Australian Research Council Linkage funding, announced by Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Senator the Hon Kim Carr at the University last week, forensic scientists will devise a “radical new hair examination protocol”.                                        

Professor Lennard (left) demonstrates technology used to detect fibres, such as hair, on clothing to Senator Carr Photo: Norm Plant, ARC

“Humans shed, on average, more than 100 scalp hairs a day and we plan to develop a new, comprehensive, objective examination system that will significantly increase hair’s forensic value,” the University’s head of forensic studies Chris Lennard said.

“The irony is that, despite the fact that human hairs are one of the most common forms of forensic evidence, the evidential value associated with hair has come under immense scrutiny since the inception of routine DNA profiling.

“Conventional hair examination requires a comparison of microscopic features by an experienced hair examiner. This comparison is considered a very subjective process, heavily reliant on the experience of the hair examiner. Errors can and do occur.

“This project will use the latest technology to produce a radical, reliable new hair examination protocol that will increase the forensic value of human hair, one of the most common evidence types found at crime scenes,” Professor Lennard said.

The research will build upon the latest advances in digital imaging, the automated analysis of hair features such as pigmentation patterns, and the profiling of minute quantities of heavily degraded DNA.
Senator Carr described the research as “an excellent example” of the type of innovative, collaborative projects supported under the ARC Linkage scheme.

The project, Silent Witness: New analytical approaches to advance and enhance the forensic value of human hair, has been awarded more than $200,000 over three years. It brings together forensic science expertise from the University of Canberra, the Australian Federal Police, the University of Technology Sydney, and the University of Adelaide.