Science Week presentation

Tickets are still available to Simon and his father Roger’s, presentation on next week at Curtin University.

Details as follows:

In celebration of Science Week, Professor Simon Lewis will once again be presenting a joint presentation with his father Lieutenant Colonel Roger Lewis.

The presentation will be a joint ANZFSS WA, RACI WA and Curtin University presentation with the topic to be:
If you poison us do we not die?*: The case of Dr Crippen

The use of poisons to carry out murder has a long and sordid history. One of the most celebrated cases involving poison was that of Dr Crippen, who was convicted of the murder of his wife Cora by administering scopolamine, a plant alkaloid derived from plants of the nightshade family. He was hanged at Pentonville Prison in November 1910, however in 2007 claims were made that the human remains under the floorboards in Crippen’s house were not those of Cora – thus raising questions over Crippen’s guilt. Join Simon Lewis, a national award-winning lecturer and forensic researcher and his father Lieutenant Colonel Roger Lewis as they give an account of this case which remains disputed to this day. The father and son duo will explore the science of poisons and their detection as well as discussing the recent questions over Crippen’s guilt which are based upon controversial DNA evidence.

*Shylock’s speech, The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, Act 3, Scene 1

The speakers: Professor Simon Lewis leads the Forensic and Analytical Chemistry Research Group in the Department of Chemistry at Curtin University. His research interests are focused on chemical techniques applied to forensic analysis, in particular fingerprint chemistry and trace evidence.

Lieutenant Colonel Roger Lewis worked for the British Army Legal Service, retiring in 1999, with a large part of his career concerned with the prosecution of criminal cases. Lieutenant Colonel Lewis now lectures in expert evidence for a number of forensic science programs in Australia and internationally.

This lecture is presented by Curtin University and Western Australian branches of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society.

Date: Tuesday 19 August 2013
Time: 6:30 – 8:00 pm, with refreshments from 6pm
Venue: Resources & Chemistry Precinct, Building 500, Curtin University, Bentley, Enter via Manning Road entrance and follow signs

Entry to the event is free. Please go to: http://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/if-you-poison-us-do-we-not-die-the-case-of-dr-crippen-national-science-week-2014-tickets-12045021985?aff=eorg to reserve your ticket and place.

Come along and listen to a very rewarding and educational presentation by two amazing speakers!