Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
12 January 2011
16:218867725 years ago, Alec Jeffreys revolutionised forensic science, when he developed genetic fingerprinting at the University of Leicester, UK. Much of it`s success though was done at the UK`s Forensic Science Service (FSS). We led the world, and still do. The FSS is losing £2 million per month, a very insignificant amount I`d have thought in view of the billion`s involved in drug dealing and the cost of dealing with it. Anyway, with the FSS in this country we are still the world leader`s. The government has just announced it is winding this organisation down and plans to complete it by March 2012! There is an interesting article on this in the current Newscientist magazine. Is it any wonder that people like me lose all interest in politics whichever government is in? Just doesn`t make sense. Your views please and no silly comments about this government/that government, it`s been going on for years.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
12 January 2011
16:3588681this was announced at the tail end of last year, not much interest in the media.
i don't know the full details but what i do know is that forensic science is the "buzz" course at universities, due to the fictionalised programmes on it on the box.
very few who get a degree in it ever get a job in it, we have far too many.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
12 January 2011
17:0388685I've been hearing rumours of this for a few years, back to the time when I worked in a Government fraud department in 2005. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Birkbeck Uni studying Criminology and Forensic Science - such an interesting subject matter. I was one of the lucky ones who could use a little of my knowledge in my job but it was only a little. Most of the really interesting stuff was farmed out.

Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
12 January 2011
17:1188689Forensic Science became a trendy course in the late 90s thanks to Cracker and some other programs. My own old uni department started a Forensic Biology course which it has now dropped, recommending students interested in a career in that area to take a pure science instead as career prospects are better.
I haven't read the New Scientist article (just going into town so might buy one) but hope the new arrangements will be more cost effective.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
12 January 2011
17:1388690I should imagine it would be extremely interesting stuff Jeane. Did you not fancy carrying on with it? I`d have thought it would interest you much with your wide range of interests.
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Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
12 January 2011
17:1688691They`re after letting private enterprise take over it Ray, and though I`m not against privatisation, in some circumstances it just doesn`t make sense.
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Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
12 January 2011
17:3088695Our barmaid has a degree in forensic science. QED, Howard.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
12 January 2011
17:4388697I was fairly limited in the Civil Service Colin but I did decide to study mortuary science for a while which was even more up my street as it were.