Forensic Chemistry (8376.3)

Please note these are the 2020 details for this unit
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Forensic Chemistry
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Science And Technology
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Academic Program Area - Science Level 3 - Undergraduate Advanced Unit Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
This unit focuses on the examination and chemical analysis of physical evidence related to the investigation of criminal matters. Emphasis is placed on the chemistry and composition of a range of physical evidence, including textile fibres, glass, paint, illicit drugs, fire debris and explosives residues. The importance and evidential value of separation and identification techniques, and the scope and limitations of these techniques, is emphasised in relation to the analysis of forensic samples.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Discuss the chemistry and composition of a range of physical evidence types;
2. Relate the scientific principles behind separation and identification sciences, and the scope and limitation of examination techniques, to the analysis of forensic samples;
3. Select and describe appropriate methods for the analysis of a range of physical evidence types; and
4. Interpret results from the chemical analysis of physical evidence and present results in a case file and court report.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Prerequisites

8043 Analytical Chemistry.

Corequisites

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
Not available

Required texts

The following texts are available online via the UC network (Canvas Literature list) and are the core reference works that should at least be consulted in the unit:

The central forensic chemistry textbook for this unit is: "Forensic Chemistry: Fundamentals and Applications" Editor(s): Jay A. Siegel. Print ISBN: 9781118897720. Online ISBN: 9781118897768. Free online access via UC library. (Bookshop should also have paperback copies that students might want to buy for the rest of their career).

A very good basic introduction to the use of R for forensic statistics is: "Introduction to Data Analysis with R for Forensic Scientists" by Prof James Curran from Auckland University.

A fundamental text for interpretation of forensic evidence is: "Interpreting Evidence: Evaluating Forensic Science in the Courtroom" 2nd edition, Bernard Robertson, G. A. Vignaux, Charles E. H. Berger. Wiley 2016. ISBN: 978-1-118-49243-7.  

More literature is available on the Unit Canvas site Reading List

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

All submittable assessment items must be uploaded to Canvas.

An exception to the above is the mid-semester test and the Case File.  The hard-copy case file needs to be submitted to the convenor at the Mock Court.

Responsibility for understanding

If there is any doubt with regard to the requirements of any particular assignments or assessment procedure, the onus for clarifying the issue rests with the student who should contact the unit Convener or tutor. Further, it is the responsibility of students to ensure that they are correctly enrolled in the unit and that the tutor and Student Administration have their correct contact details.

 

Special assessment requirements

In order to obtain a pass grade or better, for this unit the student must:
• have attempted all assessment items carrying marks; and
• achieve minimum 50% (>49.49%) average or higher for the total of individual assignments (mid-semester test and research topic essay); and
• achieve minimum 50% (>49.49%) average or higher as an individual for the total of his/her group assignments (after peer assessment adjustment see section 6c).
If the conditions for a pass are met, the grade will be awarded as follows:

  • HD 85–100%
  • DI  75–84%
  • CR 65–74%
  • P   50 – 64%
• non-attempted assessment items will obtain 0%.
• non-attempted research topic essays covered by a medical certificate will be omitted in the calculation of the average and total mark.
• See section 6c for non-attendance penalty marks and participation bonus marks.
• The final mark for this subject will be calculated by an accumulation of marks from each assessment item.
 
The unit convenor reserves the right to question students on any of their submitted work for moderation and academic integrity purposes, which may result in an adjustment to the marks awarded for a specific task. The convener reserves the right to orally examine any individual student or team. The oral examination mark can replace any component mark or the total mark for the unit.  
 
 

Academic integrity of submitted or presented assignments.

In this forensic course full attention is given to complete academic integrity of submitted or presented assignments.

Any assignment under suspicion of any academic misconduct will be forwarded to the Faculty's ADE for review without hesitation. The lecturers in this unit will use plagiarism detection software and any other software to check for any form of plagiarism. Copying & pasting, even with minor word changes but keeping the structure, from online or others sources will be detected and reported.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

The total workload for this unit is 150 hours. The face-to-face contact time for this unit consists of a 3.5-hour practical (total 21) or 30 min team meeting or drop in sessions (total about 3 hours) on alternate weeks and a 2 hour tutorial every week total (24h). Thus the total formal contact time equates to 48 hours during the semester. The remaining 102 hours should be apportioned according to the weighting for each assessment item.  For example, the total Expert Witness Report with drafts and presentation is worth 50% (5% + 5% + 30% +10%) of the final assessment and therefore it should be expected to account for at least 50 hours outside of direct contact hours. As all assessment items are related or overlap in content there will be some efficiency in time use but to achieve top marks for this unit students should plan to need the full 150 hours of commitment, as the unit is designed with those 150 hours of commitment in mind (not less!).

Note that when extra laboratory time might be needed to complete or repeat some parts of the casework this can be negotiated with the convener.

Participation requirements

Participation requirements & penalty/bonus marks

Attendance of all tutorials, tutor group session and laboratories is compulsory.
Penalty marks for non-attendance: As the tutorials, team meetings and laboratories are compulsory the following rules for absence and late arrival without documentation will applied:

  • -5%: for absence or late arrival for 2 or more tutorials and additional -5% for each following absence or late arrival,
  • -5%: for absence or late arrival for more than 1 team meeting and failing the unit if absent or late for 2 or more team meetings,
  • -5%: for absence or late arrival for 1 lab, additional -10% for a following absence or late arrival and failing the unit if absent or late for 3 or more labs.

Late arrival is defined as not being present at the start of an activity, e.g. 8:30am Thursday morning for Tutorial.

For absence with medical certificate or equivalent the following rules will be applied:

  • Failing the unit if absent for 3 or more laboratories
  • Failing the unit if absent for 3 or more supervised team meetings

Bonus marks for leadership and peer support: To promote leadership and peer support the following "Prizes" will be available at the sole discretion of the convener:

  • Up to +5%: "Conveners Prize": for a student that provides an extraordinary contribution to management of samples, sample prep, data collection and alike.
  • Up to +5%: "Best Mate Prize": for a student that provides an extraordinary contribution to helping struggling class mates academically.

The tutorials may be recorded at the discretion of the lecturer and if technology allows. If recordings are made they will be made available on Echo or otherwise. Pdf's of lecture slides will be made available at the discretion of the lecturer. However if students cannot attend a tutorial they should also make arrangements for lecture notes from fellow students or other options.
Note that lack of participation may result in inability to satisfactorily pass assessment items and lack of participation in the group work can lead to failing the report and presentation pass requirements.
The written mid-semester test will draw upon information discussed in tutorials, relevant literature (e.g. on unit Canvas site), tutor-groups and laboratories during week 1 to 7.

 
Peer group marking scheme:
All the group assignments, the workflow, the two draft reports, final report, casefile and presentation, totally 50% of the overall mark, are subject to a peer assessment marking scheme. Each group member will get a mark weighted for their contribution to the group effort. 
The peer assessment is done after the final presentation when each group member will assess their fellow group members (and themselves) in an anonymous survey about the level of contribution of each member to the group effort. After the survey the convener will use the assessment to adjust the marks of each individual group member. Thus, some students might get higher marks than the overall group mark, and some students might get lower marks but the average mark for the whole group will remain the same. It is important to note that if a student does not contribute at all to the group work their mark for the group component could be halved and resulting in failing the unit if the other individual marks (50%) are low too. Many years of experience has shown that this peer marking scheme fairly attributes appropriate marks to each group member; it penalises freeloaders and rewards hard workers.
 

Required IT skills

Solid word processing, spreadsheet, referencing and internet skills are assumed. Some experience with the "R" statistical programming environment is assumed. Students that have no experience with "R" are expected to teach themselves "R" using existing online material before the unit. Please contact the Convener for advice.

In-unit costs

A laboratory coat and safety glasses are required for all laboratory work.  They can be obtained from the UC Union Shop and from stores such as Bunnings or Workin' Gear (Fyshwick).

Work placement, internships or practicums

Learning in this unit will be guided a mock forensic case and thus provide a stimulating simulated professional work experience.

Additional information

Unforeseen circumstances:

Unforeseen circumstances (e.g. pandemic or building work related) beyond the unit convener's control could result in changes to the mode of delivery of lectures, tutorials and practicals (where applicable) and assessments. Students will be advised if this occurs and appropriate alternatives will be arranged if possible. As this unit is very dependent on hands-on laboratory activities this unit might be delayed or canceled and offered again at a date that such laboratory activities are permittable again.

Teaching philosophy and conduct

The teaching philosophy of the unit convener and associated staff is that all work in this 3rd year unit is not just a one-way stream of information from the staff to the students, but a collaborative discovery journey of both students and staff. To promote deep understanding the unit is designed to guide and challenge the students to reinvent "the wheel(s)" for themselves rather that provide straight recipes. It is therefore necessary and expected that the students fully commit themselves to the unit, by coming prepared to lectures, participate actively in group activities, lectures, tutorials and labs and spend abundant time on self-study. The students may expect that the staff will create a supportive intellectual environment and teach and mentor to the best of their abilities in a professional respectful manner. The staff and unit convener expect in exchange that the students will behave in an equally professional and respectful manner. The staff may, from time to time, make general (or discrete individual) suggestions towards improving professional behaviour, speech, correspondence and appearance in class and laboratory, with the aim to improve the learning experience in the unit and/or to guide students in their efforts to increase their chances of future professional employment. 

Foundation of Unit

This unit involves research-led education and/or work-integrated learning.  There are active researchers and industry experienced staff delivering this unit ensuring the material is contemporary and relevant.

Provision of information to the group

Notifications through the Canvas Announcements Forum or the Canvas Discussion Forums are deemed to be made to the whole class.  It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they check for announcements on the Unit's Canvas website (Canvas forum messages are also emailed to student email addresses only).  Students should ensure they check their student email regularly.  The Canvas discussion forums will be checked by staff regularly.

Use of student email account

The University Email policy states that "students wishing to contact the University via email regarding administrative or academic matters need to send the email from the University account for identity verification purposes".  Therefore all unit enquiries should be emailed using a student university email account. Students should contact servicedesk@canberra.edu.au if they have any issues accessing their university email account.