SDG Detail

FORENSIC 706 : Environmental Forensic Science

Postgraduate course

Project description

This course is designed to apply forensic science concepts to the study of human impacts on the environment. It broadens the focus of the forensic science programme from the criminalistics focus of FORENSIC 701-704. It can also be taken by other postgraduate students with an interest in environmental forensic science. The objective of this course is to examine how the source of environmental damage associated with illegal discharges and spills, and with failure to comply with resource consents, can be investigated in such a way that it will stand up to rigorous scrutiny in a criminal or environment court. The course includes case studies of oil spills, forensic microbiology, and former clandestine methamphetamine laboratories.

Year 2022

Location New Zealand

Organization University of Auckland

Project aims

Project outcome

By the end of this course, students will be able to: Present a coherent discussion of the legal and scientific issues involved in a RMA issue, given appropriate source material (Capability 1 and 2) Identify the authorities responsible for a given part of the N. Z. environment (Capability 1) Assess and interpret information on the toxicity, ecotoxicity, chemical properties, and physical properties of chemical substances, and use this information to predict the likely effects of a release on the receiving ecosystem (Capability 2, 3 and 6) Design a simple sampling scheme to monitor the effects of a given release (Capability 2 and 3) Explain the way that those responsible for the release would be dealt with under the RMA or related legislation (Capability 2 and 4) Explain and communicate the key issues in a specific environmental forensic science case study (Capability 1, 2, 4 and 5) Critically discuss the operation of risk assessment and risk management in an environmental context, especially as applied under HSNO (Capability 1, 2 and 3) Describe and discuss the enforcement provisions in the RMA (Capability 1 and 2) Describe the role of expert evidence in the Environment Court (Capability 1)