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Recent Dissertation Topics in Forensic Science

This article serves as a compass, guiding readers through a diverse array of recent dissertation topics that encapsulate the multifaceted nature of forensic research. From digital forensics to forensic psychology, the chosen dissertation topics reflect the evolving challenges and advancements in solving complex legal puzzles.

Forensic DNA Analysis:

“Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) in Forensic DNA Profiling: Opportunities and Challenges”
“The Impact of DNA Transfer and Secondary DNA Transfer in Forensic Investigations”
“Ethical Implications of DNA Phenotyping: A Critical Analysis”

Digital Forensics:

“Artificial Intelligence in Digital Forensic Analysis: A Comprehensive Review”
“Cloud Forensics: Investigating Digital Crimes in Cloud Computing Environments”
“Deepfake Detection Techniques: Safeguarding Digital Evidence Integrity”

Forensic Anthropology:

“Facial Approximation in Forensic Anthropology: Integrating 3D Modeling Techniques”
“The Role of Forensic Anthropologists in Mass Graves Investigations”
“Advancements in Skeletal Trauma Analysis for Forensic Purposes”

Forensic Toxicology:

“Metabolomics in Forensic Toxicology: Profiling Endogenous and Exogenous Compounds”
“Designer Drugs: Analytical Approaches for the Detection of Novel Psychoactive Substances”
“Forensic Challenges in Analyzing Postmortem Fluids for Toxicological Investigations”

Forensic Psychology:

“The Impact of Jury Bias on Forensic Psychologists’ Testimonies: A Case Study Analysis”
“Virtual Reality Applications in Forensic Psychology Training: Enhancing Investigative Skills”
“Exploring the Ethical Dilemmas in Forensic Psychological Assessments”

Forensic Pathology:

“Cardiac Biomarkers in Forensic Pathology: Exploring their Role in Cause of Death Determination”
“The Use of Postmortem Imaging in Forensic Pathology: A Comparative Analysis”
“Forensic Aspects of Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injuries: Patterns and Challenges”

Forensic Odontology:

“Age Estimation in Subadults: Integrating Dental and Skeletal Methods in Forensic Odontology”
“Digital Methods in Bite Mark Analysis: Enhancing Accuracy and Reliability”
“Role of Dental Records in Disaster Victim Identification: A Global Perspective”

Forensic Entomology:

“Forensic Entomogenomics: Unraveling New Dimensions in Time of Death Estimation”
“Environmental Factors Influencing Insect Colonization on Decomposing Remains: A Forensic Study”
“The Use of Entomotoxicology in Forensic Investigations: Current Trends and Applications”

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January 7, 2024 at 2:22 am

thank you for this post. I needed to submit a topic for my dissertation on Monday and you guys saved me big time

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Forensic Science Dissertation Topics

Published by Carmen Troy at January 4th, 2023 , Revised On May 3, 2024

Forensic science is a branch of science or an application that enables using scientific tools, techniques, and principles to solve a criminal act. The application of Forensic science lies in the criminal justice system, whereby scientists probe an event to disclose the actual occurrences of a crime event.

Choosing forensic science as a career is valuable in terms of its novelty, progression, and demand. It is a fairly new field that has a lot of room for progress and advancement, with advancing technology and is in demand to dig out the ground realities of a crime. When you practice forensic science, no two days will be the same, unlike other professions. One day, you may be testing samples and making assessments of the results other days.

But before you start practising, you are required to complete your degree which is conditioned by conditioned with writing a dissertation in the final year. If you are clueless about where to start your dissertation, you are not alone. Go through some of the dissertation topics related to forensic science given below, along with their research aim, and get an idea of how to begin your dissertation.

You may also want to start your dissertation by requesting a brief research proposal from our writers on any of these topics, which includes an introduction to the problem, research question , aim and objectives, literature review , along the proposed methodology of research to be conducted. Let us know if you need any help in getting started.

Check our example dissertation to get an idea of how to structure your dissertation .

You can review step by step guide on how to write your dissertation here .

Want to know what essay structure and style will work best for your assignment?

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Latest Forensic Science Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: investigating the challenges associated with pattern and impression evidence for recommending scientific foundations for accuracy, reliability and validity of forensic analysis.

Research Aim: The research aims to investigate the challenges associated with pattern and impression evidence to recommend scientific foundations for the accuracy, reliability, and validity of forensic analysis.

Objectives:

To critically analyse the challenges of pattern and impression evidence in forensics.
To evaluate the use of qualitative comparisons in forensic analysis of pattern evidence and impression to detect any scope of examiner bias.
To recommend measures for increasing the accuracy, reliability and validity of forensic analysis based on scientific foundations.

Topic 2: Investigating the impact of medical imaging technologies for determining the cause of and manner of sudden death to potentially interpret evidence of foul play

Research Aim: The research aims to investigate the impact of medical imaging technologies for determining the cause of and manner of sudden death to potentially interpret evidence of foul play

To analyse the forensic sciences used in the determination of sudden death.
To determine the role of medical imaging technologies in determining sudden death and foul play.
To evaluate the impact of medical imaging technologies in determining the cause and manner of sudden infant death.

Topic 3: An evaluation of the impact of forensic odontology on solving crimes and legal ethics.

Research Aim: The research aims to evaluate the impact of forensic odontology on solving crimes and the associated legal ethics.

To analyse the role of forensic odontology in the identification of unknown diseased individuals.
To analyse the impact of forensic odontology in solving medicolegal problems and providing expert testimony in criminal cases.
To investigate the efficacy with which forensic odontologists identify human remains from crime scenes and detect signs of abuse or neglect among children and the elderly.

Topic 4: Evaluation of the impact of forensic anthropology on the identification of age, gender and size of crime victims.

Research Aim: The research aims to evaluate the impact of forensic anthropology on the identification of age, gender and size of crime victims.

To contextualise the role application of forensic anthropology in solving criminal cases.
To analyse the work of forensic anthropologists and determine their role in crime scenes.
To investigate the role of forensic anthropology in identifying the age, gender and size of crime victims.

Topic 5: Determining the effectiveness of blood spatter studies in identifying the nature and timing of crime at crime scenes

Research Aim: The research aims to determine the effectiveness of blood spatter studies in identifying the nature and timing of crime at crime scenes

To determine the applications of blood spatter studies in forensic sciences.
To analyse the methods of detecting the nature and timing of crime at the crime scenes.
To investigate the effectiveness of blood spatter studies and the scientific basis in identifying the nature and timing of crime at crime scenes

Topic. 1: Forensic science in the 20th century and today

Research Aim: The research aim of the paper will be to find and analyse the differences between the forensic science that existed in the 20 th century and the forensic science that exists today. The research will also identify the basis for forensic science and identify the progress it has made in the time span.

Different methods can be employed to study the difference such as qualitative and quantitative analysis. In one way, forensic science’s conventional and modern methods and principles can be tested for accuracy and precision. In addition, forensic scientists can be interviewed about the differences that they have experienced in the testing methodologies.

Topic. 2: Case Study of the criminal cases and convictions resolved through forensic science

Research Aim: The aim of the research will be to study a couple or more cases that are resolved through forensic science. The research will identify in which capacity the forensic science was eminent in finding significant results, identifying the indicators, and thus disclosing the facts to resolve a complicated criminal case easily.

For more value, the researcher can study high-profile cases to identify the role of forensic science in resolving the most emphatic cases.

Topic. 3: Role of botany and entomology in the forensic science

Research Aim: Botany is the study of plants, and it is significantly related to forensic science. In forensic science, botany can be used to investigate a suspicious plant material at the crime scene. On the other hand, entomology is the study of insects. This study helps in finding the time since death and the source of the dead body.

The research will aim to find the wide importance of botany and entomology in forensic science. The researcher can examine the methods and principles of entomology and botany and identify their application in botany and entomology.

Topic. 4: The impact of swift changes and innovation in technology on the forensic science

Research Aim: Forensic science has improved and changed a lot from what it was twenty to thirty years ago. As innovations and advancements occur in the field of science, methods, techniques, tools, and principles are being modified and simplifie .

The main aim of the research will be to identify the changes and innovations in technology and find their significant impact on forensic science.

Topic. 5: Future of forensic science

Research Aim: The aim of the research will be to speculate on the future of forensic science while considering current aspects and trends. The researcher can study the opinions of forensic science researchers, examine trends, and reach a finding.

Topic. 6: Forensic science and ethical dilemmas

Research Aim: The application of forensic science is very vast, yet when it comes to ethical and moral ideologies, it has to stumble in some societies.

The aim of the research will be to identify the ethical dilemmas around forensic science in different regions of the world. The study may incorporate the assessment of cultural and religious values and examine the factors lying at the heart of the dilemmas.

Topic 7: Process of victim identification through skeletal remains

Research Aim: The research will find and discuss how a victim can be identified through skeletal remains and what steps they have to go through to find results. The research can also discuss the scope, significance, and progress made in the techniques and tools used for identification.

Topic 8: The future of forensic anthropology

Research Aim: Forensics is very useful in studying anthropology, which incorporates the scientific study of humans. The aim of the research will be to identify the future of forensic anthropology, considering to what extent forensics is applicable in anthropology today and how it will advance the study in the future if it does.

Topic 9: Value of crime scene photography in forensics

Research Aim: The research will carry out a scientific analysis of why crime scene photography is important in forensics. It will examine the cases with and without crime scene photography and their impact on forensics and, therefore on the results.

Topic. 10: Drugs and Forensics

Research Aim: The main aim of the research will be to identify the effects of opioids and other drugs on forensics and examine how they can halt or boost the examination process.

Topic. 11: Reliability of fingerprint and pattern impression evidence

Research Aim: The roots of forensics lie in the heart of fingerprint and pattern impressions.

The research will identify how reliable a fingerprint or other impression evidence is. It will find if it is easy to reach conclusive results with this evidence. And how wrong evidence can devastate the credibility of forensics.

Topic 12: The downsides of forensic science

Research Aim: While the scope of forensics is immense, we also need to identify the downside to it. The aim of the research will be to find the downsides of forensic science, its potential, and how it may affect the criminal justice system as a whole.

Topic. 13: Geographic forensic science

Research Aim: The research will aim to study and deeply analyse forensic geology. It will thoroughly study all four types of Geographic forensics: pedology, mineralogy and petrology; geophysics; natural geography and geoscience; remote sensing, location data and Geographic Information systems (GIS).

Topic. 14: Nuclear forensic science

Research Aim: Nuclear forensic science is the investigation and study of nuclear material to investigate the origin and history of the material.

The research will study and analyse Nuclear forensic science, its scope, implications, and future.

Topic. 15: Role of RNA in forensic science

Research Aim: Ribonucleic acid is a molecule in our body that is similar to DNA. While DNA plays a significant role in forensics, RNA also holds immense value.

The research will study the role of RNA in forensic science, its scope, and its principles for investigation.

Topic. 16: Role of Blood spatters in solving crimes

Research Aim: The research will aim to analyse and figure out the role of the blood spatters of the victim or culprit in investigating the time of death, the source that caused the blood spatters, and the identity of the victim or culprit.

Topic. 17: Forensic frauds and their penalties

Research Aim: Oftentimes, forensic reports are doctored to mislead the judiciary and save the real culprit. The research will find out if there are laws around handling forensic investigations and penalties for fraud around the world. The researcher can study the laws in a particular context—for example, Forensic frauds and their penalties in Europe, or the United Kingdom, etc.

Topic. 18: History of Forensic Science

Research Aim: The main research aim of the research will be to study and analyse the history of forensic science. The research will make significant, useful contrasts to understand the roots of forensics and its evolution.

Topic. 19: Understanding Antemortem, Perimortem, and Postmortem

Research Aim: Experts have to differentiate between antemortem, perimortem, and postmortem bone fracture to estimate the postmortem interval. The research aim will be to understand the concepts of antemortem, perimortem, and postmortem and their scope in forensics.

Topic. 20: Forensic science and facial recognition

Research Aim: The main aim of the research is to identify and analyse the scope of financial recognition in forensics. It will also discuss the developments and prospects in the field.

Topic 21: The Role of Forensic Anthropology in Mass Disaster Victim Identification.

Research Aim: This research investigates the role of forensic anthropology in the process of mass disaster victim identification. The study focuses on its methodologies, technologies, challenges, and advancements.

Topic 22: DNA Profiling and its Application in Forensic Investigations.

Research Aim: This study explores the principles, methodologies, and applications of DNA profiling in forensic investigations. It focuses on understanding its significance, challenges, and advancements. The research further aims to provide insights into improving forensic techniques.

Topic 23: Digital Forensics and Challenges and Innovations in Cybercrime Investigations.

Research Aim: This research examines the evolving landscape of digital forensics, including its methodologies, challenges, and innovative techniques, within the context of cybercrime investigations.

Topic 24: Forensic Entomology: Advancements in Estimating Postmortem Interval.

Research Aim: This study explores the latest advancements in forensic entomology for estimating postmortem interval (PMI), encompassing methodologies, technologies, and challenges, with the objective of enhancing the accuracy and reliability of PMI determination in forensic investigations.

Topic 25: The Effectiveness of Forensic Odontology in Human Identification.

Research Aim: This research assesses the effectiveness and reliability of forensic odontology in human identification, exploring its methodologies, techniques, limitations, and advancements to elucidate its role in forensic investigations.

Topic 26: The Use of Isotopic Analysis in Forensic Investigations.

Research Aim: To investigate the use of isotopic analysis in forensic investigations, examining its methodologies, applications, limitations, and advancements to understand its efficacy in tracing geographical origins, dietary habits, and movement patterns of individuals.

Topic 27: The Use of Geographical Profiling in Serial Crime Investigations.

Research Aim: To examine the effectiveness and applications of geographical profiling in serial crime investigations, exploring its methodologies, algorithms, limitations, and advancements, to understand its role in identifying offender spatial behaviour patterns, assisting law enforcement agencies in prioritising investigative resources, and enhancing the apprehension of serial offenders.

Topic 28: The Role of Forensic Genetics in Ancestry and Kinship Analysis.

Research Aim: To investigate the role of forensic genetics in ancestry and kinship analysis, exploring methodologies, technologies, challenges, and advancements to understand its utility in tracing familial relationships and ancestral origins, contributing to the resolution of criminal cases, and informing ethical considerations surrounding genetic privacy and identity.

Topic 29: Forensic Botany: Investigating Plant Evidence in Wildlife Crime Cases.

Research Aim: To explore the application of forensic botany in wildlife crime investigations, examining methodologies, techniques, challenges, and advancements, to understand its efficacy in analysing plant evidence, identifying species, and reconstructing crime scenes.

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How to find forensic science dissertation topics.

To discover forensic science dissertation topics:

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299+ Forensic Science Research Topics (Updated 2024)

Welcome to the world of Forensic Science Research Topics. Get ready to dive into a treasure of fascinating ideas that crack the mysteries behind crime-solving techniques. This year’s collection spans 15 stunning categories, each including 20 engaging topics.

From DNA Analysis uncovering secrets in genes to Ballistics & Firearms exploring the science behind bullets, these categories open doors to understanding how science solves puzzling cases. Cyber Forensics delves into the digital world of crime, while Forensic Anthropology examines the stories hidden within skeletal remains.

Explore Toxicology & Drug Analysis, diving into the science of poisons and medications, or journey into Wildlife Forensics, where nature meets investigation. Uncover the secrets of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis or delve into the linguistic clues in Forensic Linguistics.

Join us as we uncover the mysteries, piece by piece, and go on a thrilling journey into the captivating realm of Forensic Science Research for the year 2024.

Top 5 Applications of Forensic Science

Table of Contents

Forensic science stands as a crucial pillar in solving mysteries within the kingdoms of crime and justice. It includes various scientific disciplines applied to legal matters, providing key insights that aid investigations and legal proceedings. This multidisciplinary field plays a crucial role in solving crimes, identifying culprits, and bringing closure to victims’ families. Here are the top 5 applications of Forensic Science:

Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) : Forensic science’s foundation involves detailed examination of crime scenes. It encompasses evidence collection, analysis of fingerprints, bloodstains, fibers, and other trace evidence. This critical process helps reconstruct the sequence of events leading to a crime.
DNA Analysis : The advancement in DNA technology has revolutionized forensic science. DNA analysis helps identify individuals, link suspects to crime scenes, and exonerate innocent parties. It’s a powerful tool in criminal investigations and solving cold cases.
Toxicology & Drug Analysis : Forensic toxicology focuses on detecting drugs, poisons, or toxins in the body. It’s instrumental in determining causes of death or establishing impairment due to substances.
Ballistics & Firearms Analysis : This branch involves studying firearms, bullets, and cartridge cases. It assists in linking weapons to crimes, identifying shooting distances, and determining trajectories.
Digital Evidence Examination : In the digital age, forensic science extends into cyberspace. Experts analyze digital devices and data to recover, interpret, and present evidence pertinent to cybercrimes.

These five applications showcase how forensic science’s diverse toolkit and methodologies are instrumental in solving crimes, offering justice, and ensuring a safer society.

Top 299+ Forensic Science Research Topics

Now, join us in exploring these thought-provoking themes and be part of the thrilling journey where every clue leads to a new revelation in the field of forensic research. Let us start.

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Forensic Anthropology as a Discipline

Nicholas v. passalacqua.

1 Department of Anthropology and Sociology, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723, USA

Marin A. Pilloud

2 Department of Anthropology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA; ude.rnu@duollipm

Derek Congram

3 Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada; ac.ufs@margnoc_d

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Not applicable.

Simple Summary

Forensic anthropology in the United States is a specialization within the overall field of anthropology. Forensic anthropologists are specially educated and trained to search, recover, and examine human remains within a medicolegal context. Over time, forensic anthropology has become increasingly specialized and distinct from other specializations within anthropology. As such, we argue that forensic anthropology should be considered its own discipline, with a unique knowledge base, separate from other similar forms of anthropology, such a bioarchaeology. We argue that forensic anthropologists have unique expertise, making them the only type of anthropologist qualified to perform medicolegal examinations of human remains. Finally, we contend that to perform or represent yourself as a forensic anthropologist without the appropriate expertise is ethical misconduct. The value of this paper is that it explains the importance of expertise and knowledge, and how forensic anthropology has diverged from other specializations of anthropology enough to be considered its own discipline.

This paper explores the current state of forensic anthropology in the United States as a distinct discipline. Forensic anthropology has become increasingly specialized and the need for strengthened professionalization is becoming paramount. This includes a need for clearly defined qualifications, training, standards of practice, certification processes, and ethical guidelines. Within this discussion, the concept of expertise is explored in relation to professionalization and practice, as both bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology have different areas of specialist knowledge, and therefore unique expertise . As working outside one’s area of expertise is an ethical violation, it is important for professional organizations to outline requisite qualifications, develop standards and best practice guidelines, and enforce robust preventive ethical codes in order to serve both their professional members and relevant stakeholders.

1. Introduction

Bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology are two closely related specializations of biological anthropology that examine human remains to understand the life experience and biological parameters of the individuals from which the remains are derived. In this treatment, we focus specifically on these two disciplines as they are closely linked by their study of anatomically modern human skeletal remains. We also limit our focus to the United States, recognizing that there are distinct education, practice, and professional qualification standards in different countries; in part stemming from different national/regional education systems and legal statutes. While forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology have different goals, both disciplines use similar approaches and sometimes the same methods to examine human remains, typically, gross skeletal material (to include bones and teeth) to determine such parameters as species (to ensure the remains are human in origin), sex (sometimes gender in conjunction with other contextual information), age (sometimes stage-of-life/life history), and stature (living height). Both disciplines also perform more complex analyses examining such characteristics as population variation in terms of biological distance (sometimes called ancestry/population affinity/boaffinity), antemortem and perimortem trauma, taphonomic modifications (sometimes postmortem interval), anomalous and pathological conditions, skeletal indicators of biological stress, and inferential data using archaeological context (sometimes mortuary patterns).

Bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology derive from biological anthropology, but are, at least in their ideal forms as practiced in the model of the United States, hybrids of both biological anthropology and archaeology. Both disciplines require the understanding of human bone biology as well as archaeological context and taphonomic changes to generate comprehensive conclusions about the lives (and in some cases the death or death event) of individuals. They draw from agency theory regarding the introduction of human remains into the archaeological record usually via culturally intentional actions for various purposes that can reflect culture and cultural identity more broadly [ 1 ]. Additionally, both are firmly entrenched in anthropology through their biocultural approach to understanding human biological adaptation, or the interpretation of skeletal modifications (during life, at death, and after death) through a cultural lens.

In the current paradigm, it is not uncommon for an individual trained in one subdiscipline of biological anthropology to offer expertise and services in another, and this is particularly common between bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. In fact, Ubelaker [ 2 ] p. 137, claimed, “[t]he symbiotic and dynamic relationship of these academic areas greatly improves the quality of the applications of each”. Contrarily, Juarez [ 3 ] argued that a focus on the commonalities between bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology is problematic as it does not emphasize the differences and boundaries of each discipline. Thompson [ 4 ] p. 68, agrees that viewing the work of a forensic anthropologist as being easily done by any trained osteologist is “a misperception of what the subject involves through focusing on methods while ignoring context”. While, Ross [ 5 ] argued that forensic anthropologists are inherently more stringent in analyses and could do all that a bioarchaeologist can do, but not vice versa. While we agree with Ubelaker [ 2 ] in that both disciplines benefit from each other, we also agree in concept with Juarez, Thompson, and Ross in that both disciplines are becoming increasingly complex and specialized, such that education and training in one discipline do not translate into competency or expertise in the other.

This disagreement has precipitated the need for increased professionalization in terms of standardizing education, defining qualifications, defining and implementing ethical codes, and reconsidering the roles played by professional organizations within both bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. We view all these issues as interwoven and each influencing the other; however, thus far, they have not been explicitly addressed comprehensively in the literature.

As both bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology have grown significantly in the last few decades, it has become prudent to explore their differences and similarities and the need for their individualization and professionalization in terms of defining qualifications (i.e., education and training needed to demonstrate adequate knowledge to perform discipline-related tasks in an applied setting) and expertise. These topics must also be framed as issues that would best be addressed by professional organizations, as disciplinary leaders harnessing the power of their communities of practitioners. This exercise is not a means of academic gatekeeping ; but rather a means to identify minimum standards and best practices of what to expect at a minimum from an individual practicing a particular profession [ 6 , 7 ].

The goal of this paper is to consider both bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology as unique disciplines, having diverged due to increasing specialization and scholarly distancing; thus, bioarchaeologists and forensic anthropologists have their own unique areas of expertise and spheres of practice. While bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology can vary greatly in their education and practice globally, we focus on the practice of these subdisciplines within the United States. For overviews of forensic anthropology in other countries, there are several excellent treatments to which the reader can refer, e.g., [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. In this treatment, we begin with a brief discussion on the trend of increasing specialization and decreasing overlap in educational programs and scholarship between the two disciplines. We follow with a definition and discussion on the scholarship of expertise and its relevance to considering bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology as unique expertise. We then expand this discussion within the context of professional qualifications, primarily in regard to the role of ethical codes and professional organizations. Next, we provide an overview of qualifications and their importance in relation to expertise, education, and practice, followed by a discussion of how to codify expertise and practice using best practice recommendations and standards documents, which are becoming ever more popular within the forensic sciences and may soon be required for practice within that context. Finally, we conclude with recommendations for the future, a call for greater consideration of the importance of qualifications as a means of respecting both the remains of those we study and their extant next-of-kin/communities, and provide a glossary (Glossary) defining several of the terms used throughout this paper for standardization and clarification.

The Divergence of Bioarchaeology and Forensic Anthropology

Early versions of both bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology were originally practiced by physicians, anatomists, and biological anthropologists with interests in the examination of the human skeleton. The examination of skeletal remains, as well as the types of research questions addressed, have always been dependent upon the contexts from which the remains were derived. When skeletons within archaeological contexts are excavated, researchers want to know about the life experiences of these individuals. Hypotheses may be formulated to pursue research around migration, diet, stress, violence, social structure, disease loads, activity levels, disability, mortuary practices, fertility, demography, growth and development, and life history, among many others, e.g., [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ].

When modern skeletons are discovered, anthropologists and the medicolegal community want to know the identity and circumstances of the death of that individual. To pursue identification, they may estimate the individual’s biological profile (i.e., age, ancestry/population affinity, sex, and stature), describe individualizing features, and compare ante- and postmortem data, e.g., [ 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ]. They are also interested in the circumstances surrounding the death event, illustrated by perimortem trauma and taphonomic alterations, and potentially estimating a postmortem interval, e.g., [ 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ]. Research also exists on the applicability of indicators of biological stress as part of the identification process [ 58 ] and investigations into gross human rights violations and structural violence [ 59 , 60 , 61 ]. However, the collection or analysis of such data is not routinely performed as part of forensic anthropological casework (i.e., reports provided in a medicolegal context).

Over the past several decades, various methods have been developed to best address the research agendas of each discipline, with differing foci based on the context-dependent nature of these investigations. Academically, these differing research agendas have increasingly diverged into academic programs and graduate advisors specializing in bioarchaeological or forensic anthropological approaches. In doing so, bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology have slowly deviated in terms of professional conferences attended [ 62 ], academic advisors and institutions, bodies of literature, venues of publication, and professional memberships. Through this divergence, they have become more and more isolated from each other, developing separate communities of practice with separate “social lives” [ 63 ]. All scientific disciplines essentially function in this manner, effectively “mold[ing] their disciplines by pedagogically fashioning their disciples” [ 64 ] p. 381. The choices made by academic hiring committees for future directions of a program are the same as those made by graduate student advisors in that they are purposeful, active choices, which intentionally shape future generations of pedagogy [ 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 ].

It is unclear precisely when individuals in the United States studying human skeletons from archaeological contexts, being educated in biological anthropology, began to identify as bioarchaeologists , or when individuals studying human skeletons in medicolegal contexts being educated in biological anthropology began to identify as forensic anthropologists ; that is, as opposed to identifying as biological/physical anthropologists. It is likely that as each subdiscipline increased in popularity, practitioners began to self-identify as one or the other. According to Snow [ 69 ] and Tersigni-Tarrant and Langley [ 70 ], individuals began identifying as forensic anthropologists in the 1970s; however, this trend grew in the 1980s when forensic anthropology began to gain popularity from the work of William Bass, Walter Birkby, William Maples, and their graduate students (John Williams, personal communication 2019).

In the 1990s, bioarchaeology began to increase in visibility with the passage of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), which required trained osteologists to assist in repatriation efforts. Additionally in the 1990s, two formative publications in bioarchaeology were released: Standards for Data Collection from Human Skeletal Remains [ 71 ] and Clark Spencer Larsen’s [ 72 ] B ioarchaeology: Interpreting Behavior from the Human Skeleton . It is likely, then, that around the 1980s and 1990s individuals began to identify as either bioarchaeologists or forensic anthropologists, pursuing graduate advisors based on such foci and graduate programs with discipline-specific education programs. While there are some individuals who practice both and who consider themselves a bioarchaeologist and a forensic anthropologist, this number has likely decreased over the past several decades based on our observation of the subdisciplines, and may continue to do so as each becomes more specialized. An increase in full-time applied positions for forensic anthropologists [ 73 ] has also surely influenced this trend.

Considering the divergence of bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology, Buikstra et al. [ 74 ] found large increases in publications focusing on bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology starting in the 1970s, corresponding with the incipient formalization of both areas of study. However, Buikstra et al. [ 74 ] also demonstrated that while bioarchaeological literature was found in a variety of anthropological journals, forensic anthropological literature was increasingly published in the Journal of Forensic Sciences to the exclusion of other more anthropologically focused journals. Bethard [ 75 ] also demonstrated this trend by practicing forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology (ABFA). Bethard [ 75 ] found that based solely on the focus of dissertation subjects, representing the focus of graduate research projects, forensic anthropologists have increasingly pursued forensic anthropological research topics, rather than bioarchaeological or other more general biological anthropology topics, particularly since 2005.

Only recently have the first journals dedicated to bioarchaeology or forensic anthropology been established. Arguably, the first journal dedicated to bioarchaeology was the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology , established in 1991 and published by Wiley. Although, like the term osteoarchaeology itself, this journal has a heavy European focus and includes many publications on the analysis of non-human remains. It was not until 2017 that the journal Bioarchaeology International was established, published by the University of Florida Press [ 76 ]; this journal was followed one year later in 2018 by the first journal dedicated to forensic anthropology, Forensic Anthropology [ 77 ], also published by University of Florida Press (Gainesville, FL, USA).

Martin [ 78 ] p. 163, points out that bioarchaeologists have long been critical of forensic anthropological work as being “merely technical expertise”. She fully admits that she used to be one of those bioarchaeologists who questioned “where is the anthropology in forensic anthropology?” [ 78 ] p. 163; yet, she has changed her viewpoint on the topic in a recognition that forensic anthropology is not an atheoretical practice. Martin is more hopeful on the integration of the interests of bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology, and has been involved in editing volumes that promote this integration of bioarchaeological and forensic anthropological approaches to research questions, e.g., [ 79 , 80 ]. She offers the term “forensic bioarchaeologist” as a means to promote this cross-disciplinary effort [ 78 ]. The term “forensic bioarchaeologist” was previously introduced by Scott and Connor [ 81 ], Skinner and colleagues [ 82 ], and Jessee and Skinner [ 83 ]. The latter two used it as a means of integration of archaeological methods and theory into medicolegal investigations of mass graves. Of particular pertinence to this discussion, Skinner et al. (2003) promoted guidelines for bioarchaeological practice in a forensic context. Nevertheless, the term “forensic bioarchaeologist”, has generally not been adopted.

Conversely, Steadman [ 84 ] discourages the use of such a term, arguing that it may serve to obscure the lines between forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology. In an academic sense, this may be “harmless” [ 84 ] p. 251; however, the term may cause confusion in the public about the distinction between the two disciplines, which she feels could potentially be problematic for jurors. We too argue the term could blur the boundaries of qualifications and expertise between the two disciplines, which is challenging for law enforcement and those working in the medicolegal realm. The further confounding of the two subdisciplines is also evidenced by the American Journal of Physical Anthropology ’s manuscript submission system. In this system, authors must designate a manuscript by “subfield”, with the only relevant choice for bioarchaeology or forensic anthropology being: “Bioarchaeology [including forensics]”.

We agree with Martin [ 78 ] p. 163, and Ubelaker [ 2 ] (as discussed previously) that the subdisciplines of bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology are independent and complementary and while they may differ in focus, contextual application, and specific hypotheses, they can learn much from each other. We firmly believe that a clear standardization of education, training, and qualifications is the best way for this mutual appreciation and professionalization to be achieved. The first step in this process is recognizing a lack of cross-disciplinary expertise, which can be achieved through a broader understanding of what constitutes expertise, as we discuss further below.

2. Disciplinary Expertise

As we argued above and as others have demonstrated [ 74 , 85 ], while lacking published qualifications, bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology have developed into their own disciplines each with their own areas of expertise, bodies of literature, analytical methods, theoretical models, and education programs. However, it is important to discuss what expertise is and how it is created to fully appreciate the implications of differing expertise (and thus different disciplinary skills). Typically, we consider experts to have authoritative knowledge or skill in a particular area, while laymen are non-professional individuals lacking expertise [ 29 , 30 , 86 , 87 , 88 ]. A depth of literature has emerged relatively recently examining experience, expertise, and the sociology of scientific knowledge, e.g., [ 63 , 86 , 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 , 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 , 100 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 ]. We include a brief discussion of this literature here for some of the same reasons Collins [ 93 ] p. 127, was motivated to pioneer this avenue of inquiry, “to persuade sociologists [here, anthropologists] to reflect upon their expertises”.

Collins and Evans [ 108 ], present models of various forms of specialist expertise along a two- or three-dimensional spectrum [ 97 , 98 , 100 ]. Within specialist expertise exist two main types of knowledge, “Ubiquitous Tacit Knowledge” and “Specialist Tacit Knowledge” ( Table 1 ). The first, “Ubiquitous Tacit Knowledge” (i.e., information) may be generated simply via reading without interacting with the appropriate contributory experts, this is knowledge that is easily accessible and therefore common knowledge. The novice level of “Ubiquitous Tacit Knowledge” is considered “beer mat” (knowledge of very superficial facts about a topic that you might find on a beer mat/coaster). The next level is “popular understanding”, which can be achieved through popular non-fiction books and general media. “Primary source knowledge” involves engaging with the primary literature; however, this literature still only provides “a shallow or misleading appreciation of science in deeply disputed areas”, which is far from obvious for the uninitiated [ 108 ] p. 22.

Levels of expertise based on Collins and Evans (2007).

“Specialist Tacit Knowledge” must be acquired via interactions and enculturation with practicing professionals [ 100 ], and serves as the necessary knowledge base(s) to practice a discipline. Specialist Tacit Knowledge ranges from “interactional expertise” to “contributory expertise” [ 108 ]. Interactional expertise is essentially the ability to interact with other experts using their language/jargon and understanding the concepts being discussed, but lacking the full expertise to practice [ 102 ]. Contributory expertise is traditional technical expertise, where the practitioner is the contributory and interactional expert, meaning they are able to discuss/interact with other individuals at a complex level and able to perform complex disciplinary tasks competently [ 105 ]. With these definitions of types of knowledge, expertise can be defined as “the mastery of the tacit knowledge of a domain of practice, with interactional expertise being mastery of the domain’s language, and contributory expertise being the ability to competently engage in the practices of that domain” [ 104 ] p. 99.

As both bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology share many common lower-level knowledge areas, individuals educated in either discipline have some specialist knowledge of the other, representing what Collins and Evans [ 108 ] refer to as Primary Source Knowledge. For example, both may use the same method to estimate the sex of skeletal remains. However, as specialization increases, there is less and less overlap in knowledge, and the expertise required to interpret method results and generate reports becomes more exclusive. For example, bioarchaeologists must understand the historical context of the samples they are analyzing and when possible, work with descendent communities; while forensic anthropologists must understand jurisdiction, chain of custody, and admissibility of evidence.

These distinctions in knowledge area and specialist expertise are important, as without the appropriate “Specialist Tacit Knowledge”, practitioners/researchers may perform tasks inappropriately and/or incorrectly. As Collins and Evans [ 108 ] p. 22, state: “it can be shown that what is found in the literature, if read by someone with no contact with the core-groups of scientists who actually carry out the research in disputed areas, can give a false impression of the content of the science as well as the level of certainty”. In other contexts, this concept is often referred to as the Dunning–Kruger effect, or essentially the ignorance of one’s ignorance [ 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 ]. Individuals have just enough knowledge to understand the primary literature, but not enough to fully grasp the nuances of this material or how to properly discuss or apply it. The implications of which are that bioarchaeologists and forensic anthropologists, as contributory experts in their respective disciplines, can be ignorant of their lack of cross-disciplinary expertise. Collins and Evans state: “Enculturation” is the only way to master an expertise which is deeply laden with tacit knowledge because it is only through common practice with others that the rules that cannot be written down can come to be understood” [ 108 ] p. 24. Essentially, as knowledge becomes more specialized, individuals interested in acquiring this knowledge must rely on practitioners’ practices (i.e., experiential training programs) rather than literature (i.e., educational programs) [ 104 ]. Returning to bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology, essentially, the only way to develop contributory expertise in one of these disciplines is through enculturation in a bioarchaeological or forensic anthropological educational and/or training program supervised by a contributory expert in that discipline. This is not to say that individuals cannot be experts in both disciplines, rather it means that dual expertise requires individuals to develop contributory expertise in both bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. As Collins and Evans [ 108 ] point out, lacking such enculturation at the level of contributory expertise leads to overconfidence and poor performance (i.e., the Dunning–Kruger effect).

It is important to reiterate here that the focus is on education and training by other contributory experts, working towards building a body of knowledge and practical skills in a way that is consistent with how the discipline (i.e., other contributory experts) operates. This “enculturation” is not a form of limiting access to knowledge, but rather as means of acquiring knowledge in such a way that the learner will develop interactional expertise (being able to have high-level discussions with other contributory experts, using the appropriate processes) and contributory expertise (being able to use methods, technology, etc., in such a way that it contributes to the greater body of scholarly knowledge of a discipline). This is not a new concept and is essentially how academia currently operates. That is, students attend graduate school at programs that have education programs in which they are interested, working with advisors doing work similar to what they want to do as professionals. While academia is not without its major flaws, the argument here is simply that training and education are critical to gaining the requisite skills to perform disciplinary tasks. The arguments presented here are the first step in recognizing the need for developing expertise, the next step would be to develop such training and education programs. As a discipline, we can and should critically evaluate what this training looks like and how we define demonstrable expertise in a way that is inclusionary and equitable.

3. Ethics, Expertise, and the Role of Professional Organizations

Professional organizations like the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), the American Association of Physical/Biological Anthropologists (AAPA/AABA), the Society for American Archaeology (SAA), and the American Anthropological Association (AAA) exist largely to provide individuals in that profession opportunities to network, organize, and serve and engage with the public. Additionally, these organizations typically provide professional development and continuing education opportunities, which is why student members are often encouraged to join as a means to facilitate disciplinary enculturation and entrée into the profession at large, which can also serve to provide them with the necessary expertise to practice their discipline. Further, organizational ethical codes should address qualifications so as to define the proper education and/or training to perform discipline-related tasks. Such a definition would prevent an individual from performing applied work outside their area of expertise, which is an ethical violation. Here, we first outline the need for professional ethical guidelines, and then we revisit the role these organizations can play in providing qualifications for members.

4. Why Do We Need Professional Ethical Guidelines?

A professional is someone who: (1) possesses a body of special knowledge (i.e., contributory expertise), (2) practices within an ethical framework (i.e., adheres to a code of ethics and avoids conflicts of interest), and (3) fulfills a societal need [ 6 , 7 , 113 ]. Professionalism is conduct associated with a particular profession. Both bioarchaeology, e.g., [ 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 , 119 ] and forensic anthropology, e.g., [ 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 , 124 ] have extensive literature regarding ethical conduct and practice. However, ethical codes are typically established, and presumably enforced, by professional organizations. Ethical codes are used to: (1) establish conduct that is meant to be pursued by practitioners of a discipline (altruistic behavior); (2) establish conduct that must be avoided (i.e., misconduct), and (3) provide potential negative outcomes for practitioners engaging in misconduct [ 113 , 125 ]. Professional ethics are typically presented in the form of either aspirational guidelines or preventive standards [ 126 ]. Aspirational ethical codes are meant to promote human wellbeing and present a number of guiding and/or motivational behaviors that an organization would like its members to follow/achieve. Preventive ethical codes are enforced by an adjudicating committee within an organization that performs an investigation when a complaint of misconduct alleges that an individual acted unethically [ 113 ]. The content of ethical codes for professional organizations vary, but should generally be structured to ensure members avoid unprofessional conduct, so as to maintain the credibility of the profession and professional organization. Without clear professional ethics, a discipline does not have guidelines for acceptable or unacceptable behavior, such that there can be no good or bad conduct, and all actions must be treated equally [ 127 ] p. 233.

In terms of the meaningful implementation of professional ethics, there are two essential issues that must be addressed. The first is that ethical codes must be detailed enough so that specific types of conduct considered to be unethical are demonstrably so. Second, ethical codes must be enforceable, with negative outcomes for individuals found guilty of misconduct. The importance of these issues is perhaps most easily demonstrable in terms of U.S. politics, where ethical guidelines are often ignored when ethical misconduct is not actually against the law, and the language of ethical guidelines is vague and not rigorously enforced [ 128 , 129 , 130 ]. As Josephson states: “there is a big difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do” [ 131 ] p. 4. Unfortunately, the same is also the case in most professional organizations in which bioarchaeologists and forensic anthropologists are members. This is important as the law is meant to represent and enforce values for society as a whole, but is often not specific enough to cover many activities pertinent to a particular profession. Professional ethical codes more directly address discipline-specific values and behaviors.

Because ethical codes are tied to specific organizations, they only apply to the members of those organizations. This means that organizational membership (or lack thereof) plays an important role in establishing and policing the conduct of a profession and its body of practitioners, based on each organization’s ethical code. It also means that each organization should consider the ramifications of its membership requirements in terms of professional qualifications and access to students and non-experts, and how this allows the organization to serve its role within its professional community. Therefore, professional organizations serve a role of providing opportunities for gaining expertise through enculturation by interacting with additional contributory experts, and are positioned to provide sanctions when a member practices outside of their expertise, which could be seen as an ethical violation.

5. The Need for Disciplinary Qualifications

Bioarchaeology has no official or widely accepted published documents in the public or private sector regarding qualifications for bioarchaeological practice, or for the education or training of its practitioners. Currently, anyone claiming to have the appropriate training in bioarchaeology can be employed to perform applied bioarchaeological tasks. This is particularly true in contract archaeology (i.e., cultural resource management [CRM]), where it may be difficult to find qualified osteologists who are also available at the time of the excavation. These companies may then be forced to hire individuals with little osteological training to excavate and perform analyses.

As a recognition of the need for standardized qualifications, there have been some movements to define minimum qualifications to perform osteological analysis and excavation. Within the Code of Colorado Regulations, under Section 13 “Unmarked Human Graves”, point G states, “Pursuant to 24-80-1302(4)(e), the physical anthropological study of human remains shall be conducted by a qualified physical anthropologist with the credentials comparable to those required for principal investigators, as set forth in Section 5 of these regulations” ( https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do?ruleVersionId=541&fileName=8%20CCR%201504-7 , accessed on 16 July 2021). The qualifications outlined for principal investigators include a graduate degree in anthropology, archaeology, or history with experience in Colorado archaeology; one year of professional experience; four months of supervised field and analytic experience; and the ability to complete research.

The Wisconsin Historical Society has taken this a step further to establish specific guidelines to be a “qualified archaeologist for burial sites or a qualified skeletal analyst”. Their mandatory requirements include a graduate degree in anthropology, at least one year of professional experience or specialized training, at least four months of supervised experience, and the ability to complete a project. The full list of requirements and application instructions can be found on their website: https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS14963 , accessed on 16 July 2021. The Society for California Archaeology (SCA) recently sent out an email to members with a draft outline for “recommended qualifications for field osteologists working in California”. Very generally, this guideline would recommend a master’s degree in anthropology and field experience dealing with human remains. There are additional qualifiers such as course work in human osteology, experience with NAGPRA, and a field school with an osteological focus, among others. The guidelines have not been published and are currently out for public comment ( https://form.jotform.com/90855960158972 , accessed on 16 July 2021). Of note, the guidelines would not be enforceable by the SCA, but would serve as recommendations for employers. These guidelines for qualifications address specialist expertise by requiring not only advanced education but also having already worked as a professional and having been supervised to gain enculturation.

Within forensic anthropology, Galloway and Simmons [ 132 ] identified deficiencies in the standardization of education and training in forensic anthropology over two decades ago. As a result, more formal efforts were taken up by the Scientific Working Group for Anthropology (SWGAnth) to establish guidelines for Qualifications [ 133 ], and Education and Training [ 134 ]. However, these documents were never widely adopted, nor are they enforceable. Passalacqua and Pilloud [ 85 ] surveyed practicing forensic anthropologists and found large variations in terms of graduate coursework taken by the survey participants. The survey also demonstrated a lack of consensus among practicing forensic anthropologists in what constituted appropriate education and training in forensic anthropology. However, there was overwhelming agreement that clear standards for education are needed, with a high degree of support (96%) for developing an accreditation for forensic anthropology educational programs. Additionally, Langley and Tersigni-Tarrant [ 135 ] outlined a model to develop qualifications in forensic anthropology based on medical education. In this model, there would be a set of core competencies demonstrated via various “entrustable professional activities”. Once core competencies are clearly identified and agreed upon, appropriate training and certification (to demonstrate expertise) could be implemented.

There are currently no certifications for the profession of bioarchaeology, however, job ads in the United Kingdom for osteologists have added “professional grade membership of the CIFA [Chartered Institute for Archaeologists]” as a desired criterion; which is functionally a certification (albeit not necessarily focused on the analysis of human remains).

While no widely supported guidelines or standards currently exist in terms of education and training, or qualifications within forensic anthropology, there are certification processes see, [ 7 ] for an overview. In Europe, the Forensic Anthropology Society of Europe (FASE) and the Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI) oversee certification processes. In Latin America, the Asociación Latinoamericana de Antroplogía Forense (ALAF) also has a certification process. In the United States, the ABFA has a certification process, and is currently the only accredited certifying body for forensic anthropology.

While these certifications may exist, there is still a lack of clear qualifications (i.e., who can practice and how do you educate/train practitioners) within both subdisciplines. This lack of standardized qualifications is problematic as there are no widely agreed-upon standards for determining who is and who is not an expert and thus capable to perform tasks as a bioarchaeologist or a forensic anthropologist. As both disciplines are specialized, it can be difficult for outside agencies to accurately judge the qualifications and requisite expertise of individuals applying to perform these types of analysis. For example, with very few exceptions there are no standards in bioarchaeology to determine who can perform work for NAGPRA repatriation, osteological analysis, or excavation in CRM, or at academic archaeological sites. Nor are there requirements demonstrating expertise to teach bioarchaeological field-schools, or meaningful certifications or competencies gained through attending a field school. All of these things can be problematic for the adequate interpretation of archaeological sites and human remains with an irreplaceable loss of data and information (when analyses are permitted), particularly in cases of repatriation and reburial. Moreover, while there is a certification process within forensic anthropology, there is no legal requirement that a forensic anthropologist must be certified in order to perform such analyses in a medicolegal context. In fact, any such self-identified specialist can be tasked to perform this work. Contracting unqualified individuals to perform forensic anthropological casework can result in improper conclusions, which can hinder identification efforts (or worse, misidentify a person) and could have enormous consequences during the litigation process, for the analyst, their employer and, critically, for the family of the deceased.

The ramifications of the differences in the disciplines are that if an individual without the appropriate education and training acts beyond their professional expertise, they are misrepresenting their qualifications and could potentially do harm to the research project, field recovery, forensic case/investigation, descendant populations (as occurred with the well-known example of “The Ancient One”, also known as Kennewick Man [ 136 , 137 , 138 ], and/or the entire discipline; and are thus acting unethically. As such, professionals and professional organizations should be critically concerned about qualifications, expertise, and ethical practice. It cannot be expected that law enforcement agencies, attorneys, CRM firms, museums, or a medicolegal authority be trained in examining the nuances of an anthropological degree to determine who is and who is not qualified to be a bioarchaeologist or forensic anthropologist. There must be clear published standards that go beyond education in skeletal analysis as work in bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology has become increasingly specialized and individuated.

6. Conclusions: A Way Forward

We attempted to demonstrate that bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology have evolved and diverged into two separate disciplines, each encompassing its own suite of literature, education, training, and qualifications. Additionally, we attempted to illustrate the connection between expertise, ethics, and professional organizations as important aspects to the advancement of, and professional practice in, both bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. Both disciplines are in need of the development of standardized education and training programs that reinforce best practice models for their applied foci. Once appropriate models for education and training have been defined, it can become possible for practitioners to demonstrate expertise to achieve credentials in a more meaningful and demonstrable way. Professional organizations should be leading these efforts in addition to establishing robust and enforceable ethical codes and tailoring their membership in such a way as to support the further professionalization of their disciplines.

Thus far, bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology have not fully embraced standardization of practice or qualifications—although forensic anthropology is ahead in this regard [ 7 ]. This shortfall is probably due in part to the largely academic focus of both bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology and the lack of familiarity with program accreditation in anthropology generally (although this is common, if not required, in many other academic disciplines, including many of the sciences). However, the accreditation of academic programs specializing in bioarchaeology or forensic anthropology may be a relatively straightforward way to ensure the generation of expertise and qualifications. The generation of consensus-based qualifications (via graduate-level education) for these subdisciplines would not necessitate large changes in curricula within anthropology departments. Rather, these programs may need to make small adjustments to fit the required definitions for accreditation. For example, the definition of qualifications to be a bioarchaeologist could be graduate courses in osteology, bioarchaeology, archaeological theory, and a field school; courses that many bioarchaeologists would readily take and are currently offered by graduate programs. Further, this coursework could be modeled to allow for the development of competency of various related applied skills. For example, the osteology course could provide modules on human vs. non-human identification, or the field school could provide verification of expertise to adequately excavate and document skeletal material within an archaeological context. For forensic anthropology, graduate coursework with a forensic focus, osteology, and a forensic archaeological field school could be required. Competency could be demonstrated via mock or mentored casework.

There are already movements to define qualifications within bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology; however, these should be codified by professional organizations and linked to education and training. Within bioarchaeology, there are regional movements to define qualifications to perform bioarchaeological work, but these efforts are in their earliest stages. As there is currently no professional organization for bioarchaeology, these steps are being taken by other organizations, such as the SCA, the Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA), and the state governments in which the work is being performed. These qualifications are still vague and may not be broadly enforced or accepted by the professional community at large. It may be necessary for this work to be undertaken as a working group within the AAPA/AABA, or independently as is being done with forensic anthropology via the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC) and the American Academy of Forensic Science Standards Board (ASB). Again, the definition of these qualifications would not serve as a means to hamper research or scientific integrity or as a means of keeping people out of the disciplines, but would aid in determining who is capable of performing disciplinary tasks in an applied setting. It may also be beneficial for bioarchaeology to develop a national certification process similar to the ABFA, which could serve to illustrate requisite expertise or competencies to employers and stakeholders.

Within forensic anthropology, the OSAC and ASB are developing and have published best practice recommendations and standards for performing various disciplinary tasks. As part of this initiative, there is a consideration for education and training, and qualifications; however, these specific documents are not yet finalized. There is already a mechanism to review and approve education programs within the forensic sciences, the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC). However, this organization does not currently oversee forensic anthropology programs. Still, the FEPAC model could provide a way forward for accrediting forensic anthropology (and bioarchaeology) educational programs, if necessary. Additionally, the ABFA certification process could be updated and improved to adequately illustrate competencies as outlined by the OSAC and ASB documents.

While this work is being undertaken to improve and standardize both disciplines, there is still very little consequence for not following existing standards or ethical codes. Platitudes on misconduct without operational enforcement mechanisms are not useful. As performing work beyond one’s qualifications is unethical, we argue that professional organizations need to more clearly define ethical codes with enforceable consequences.

Bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology do not operate in a vacuum. Both disciplines examine the remains of deceased humans, and every action, use for, and result from that examination affects the beneficiaries and stakeholders associated with those human remains [ 139 ]. While not commonly considered, there has been a recent push to acknowledge that the dead retain their humanity and thus should be granted rights [ 113 , 140 , 141 , 142 , 143 ]. Additionally, human subjects have next-of-kin, be they direct living relatives, or more distantly related descendant-communities. As those performing these analyses are often responsible for the curation/custody of these remains, we must acknowledge that we have an ethical and moral responsibility to act in the best interests of these individuals and their next-of-kin (usually defined in open dialogue with relatives and kin). The analyses we perform are used to reach conclusions that are presented in reports, publications, and other media, available to not only the research subject’s next-of-kin, but also the public at large. Bioarchaeological reports may be used to understand past human lifeways and as one part of the process for repatriation and return to descendent communities. Forensic anthropology reports may be used not only to bring closure to a family, but in court to adjudicate innocence or guilt. The conclusions of our work have meaning and reflect upon the identity and lives of the deceased as well as the communities from which they came.

When we consider the importance of this type of work, we should want to ensure that the individual performing an analysis is an expert, and we owe that commitment to our communities and the individuals we study. Incorrect analyses and erroneous conclusions cause harm. As such, we should want to ensure that our students are being educated in the methods and skills necessary to perform their work and best serve not just their discipline, but their research subjects. Further, we should want to ensure that the quality of work we perform as professionals continues to be held to a high standard by generating and following best practices and/or standards for analytical decisions in applied practice. We should do these things, not just because they are the right thing to do, but as a service to those upon which we base not only our work, but also our entire careers.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, N.V.P. and M.A.P.; writing—original draft preparation, N.V.P., M.A.P., D.C.; writing—review and editing, N.V.P., M.A.P., D.C. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Informed consent statement, data availability statement, conflicts of interest.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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Anthropology Theses and Dissertations

Theses/dissertations from 2023 2023.

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Rethinking Settlement Patterns at the Weeden Island Site (8PI1) on Florida’s Central Gulf Coast , Heather E. Draskovich

Listening to Women: Using a Mixed-Methods Approach to Understanding Women’s Desires and Experience During Childbirth , Nicole Loraine Falk Smith

Archaeology and Seasonality of Stock Island (8Mo2), a Glades-Tradition Village on Key West , Ryan M. Harke

How Culture and Storytelling Can Influence Urban Development: An Ethnographic Look at the Community-Driven Revitalization of Newtown in Sarasota, Florida , Michala Head

Educational Experiences of Congolese Refugees in West-Central Florida High Schools , Michaela J. Inks

Constructing 'Child Safety': Policy, Practice, and Marginalized Families in Florida's Child Welfare System , Melissa Hope Johnson

"We're the Lucky Ones": A Social Network Analysis of Recovery After the Iowa Derecho , Kayla C. Jones

How Race is Made in Everyday Life: Food, Eating, and Dietary Acculturation among Black and White Migrants in Florida, U.S. , Laura Kihlstrom

Tourism, Education, and Identity Making: Agency and Representation of Indigenous Communities in Public Sites within Florida. , Timothy R. Lomberk II

Pregnancy and Fertility Amongst Women with the MTHFR C677T Polymorphism: An Anthropological Review , Caroline A. MacLean

A Biocultural Analysis of the Impacts of Interactions Between West Africans and Europeans During the Trans-Atlantic Trade at Elmina, Ghana , Heidi Ellen Miller

The Distribution in Native Populations from Mexico and Central America of the C677T Variant in the MTHFR Gene , Lucio A. Reyes

Politics vs. The Environment: The Spatial Distributions of Mississippian Mound Centers in Tampa Bay , Adam J. Sax

Seasonality, Labor Organization, and Monumental Constructions: An Otolith Study from Florida’s Crystal River Site (8CI1) and Roberts Island Shell Mound Complex (8CI40 and 41) , Elizabeth Anne Southard

Eating and Body Image Disorders in the Time of COVID19: An Anthropological Inquiry into the Pandemic’s Effects on the Bodies , Theresa A. Stoddard

The Early Medieval Transition: Diet Reconstruction, Mobility, and Culture Contact in the Ravenna Countryside, Northern Italy , Anastasia Temkina

The Science of Guessing: Critiquing Ancestral Estimation Through Computer Generated Statistical Analysis Within Forensic Anthropology in a Real-World Setting , Christopher J. Turner

Listening to Queens: Ghana's Women Traditional Leaders as a Model for Gender Parity , Kristen M. Vogel

Site Suitability Modeling in the Sand Pine Scrub of the Ocala National Forest , Jelane M. Wallace

Our Story, Our Homeland, Our Legacy: Settlement Patterns of The Geechee at Sapelo Island Georgia, From 1860 To 1950 , Colette D. Witcher

Identifying Skeletal Puberty Stages in a Modern Sample from the United States , Jordan T. Wright

Pollen-Vegetation Relationships in Upper Tampa Bay , Jaime E. Zolik

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Maternal Social Status, Offspring 2D:4D Ratio and Postnatal Growth, in Macaca mulatta (Rhesus Macaques) , Juan Pablo Arroyo

Social Exclusion of Older Mossi Women Accused of Witchcraft in Burkina Faso, West Africa , Clarisse Barbier

Fields Brook Superfund Site: Race, Class, and Environmental Justice in a Blasted Landscape , Richard C. Bargielski

The Effects of Feudalism on Medieval English Mobility: A Biological Distance Study Using Nonmetric Cranial Traits. , Jonathan H. Barkmeier

Before the Storm: Water and Energy Utilities, Human Vulnerability and Disaster Risk , Cori D. Bender

Recipes for the Living and the Dead: Technological Investigation of Ceramics from prehistoric Sicily. The case studies of Sant’Angelo Muxaro and Polizzello , Gianpiero Caso

Save Water Drink Wine: Challenges of Implementing the Ethnography of the Temecula Valley Wine Industry into Food-Energy-Water Nexus Decision-Making , Zaida E. Darley

İYo luché! : Uncovering and Interrupting Silencing in an Indigenous and Afro-descendant Community , Eileen Cecelia Deluca

Unwritten Records: Crime and Punishment in Early Virginia , Jessica L. Gantzert

‘It’s Been a Huge Stress’: An In-Depth, Exploratory Study of Vaccine Hesitant Parents in Southern California , Mika Kadono

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for Elemental Analysis in Bioarchaeology and Forensic Anthropology , Kelsi N. Kuehn

Middle Woodland Mounds of the Lower Chattahoochee, Lower Flint, and Apalachicola River Basin , Michael H. Lockman

Overturning the Turnbull Settlement: Artifact Analysis of the Old Stone Wharf in New Smyrna Beach, Florida , Tracy R. Lovingood

“They will think we are the Cancer Family”: Studying Patterns of Cancer Disclosure and Communication among Indian Immigrants in the United States , Kanan Mehta

Museum Kura Hulanda: Representations of Transatlantic Slavery and African and Dutch Heritage in Post-Colonial Curaçao , April Min

Nurses and Needlesticks: Perceptions of Stigma and HIV Risk , Bethany Sharon Moore

Circadian Rhythms and the Embodiment of Social Zeitgebers: Linking the Bio and Social , Tiffany R. Moore

Civic Engagement amid Civil Unrest: Haitian Social Scientists Working at Home , Nadège Nau

“Placing our breasts on a hot kerosene lantern”: A Critical Study of Microfinancialization in the Lives of Women Entrepreneurs in the Informal Economic Sector in Ibadan, Nigeria , Olubukola Olayiwola

Domestic Life during the Late Intermediate Period at El Campanario Site, Huarmey Valley, Peru , Jose Luis Peña

Archaeology and the Philosopher's Stance: An Advance in Ethics and Information Accessibility , Dina Rivera

A South Florida Ethnography of Mobile Home Park Residents Organizing Against Neoliberal Crony Capitalist Displacement , Juan Guillermo Ruiz

From Colonial Legacy to Difficult Heritage: Responding to and Remembering An Gorta Mór , Ireland’s Great Hunger , Katherine Elizabeth Shakour

The Role of Financial Insecurity and Expectations on Perspectives of Mental Health Services among Refugees , Jacqueline M. Siven

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Trauma Analysis in Cases of Child Fatality , Jaime D. Sykes

Governmentality, Biopower, and Sexual Citizenship: A Feminist Examination of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Experiences of 18-24 Year-Olds in the U.S. Southeast , Melina K. Taylor

Characterizing Childhood and Diet in Migration Period Hungary , Kirsten A. Verostick

An Ethnography of WaSH Infrastructures and Governance in Sulphur Springs, Florida , Mathews Jackon Wakhungu

A Plan for Progress, Preservation, and Presentation at the Safety Harbor Museum and Cultural Center , Amanda L. Ward

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Pathways to Parenthood: Attitudes and Preferences of Eight Self-Identified Queer Women Living in Tampa Bay, FL , Emily Noelle Baker

"It's Not Addiction Until You Graduate": Natural Recovery in the College Context , Breanne I. Casper

Tales of Trafficking: Performing Women's Narratives in a Sex Trafficking Rehabilitation Program in Florida , Jaine E. Danlag

Perceptions of Infrastructure, Flood Management, and Environmental Redevelopment in the University Area, Hillsborough County, Florida , Kris-An K. Hinds

Eating in America: Easing the Transition for Resettled Refugees through an Applied Anthropological Intervention , Emily A. Holbrook

Genetic Testing and the Power of the Provider: Women’s Experiences with Cancer Genetic Testing , Dana Erin Ketcher

An Archaeological Investigation of Enslavement at Gamble Plantation , S. Matthew Litteral

“Right in the Trenches with Them”: Caregiving, Advocacy, and the Political Economy of Community Health Workers , Ryan I. Logan

Exploring Variations in Diet and Migration from Late Antiquity to the Early Medieval Period in the Veneto, Italy: A Biochemical Analysis , Ashley B. Maxwell

Least of My Worries: Food Security, Diet Quality, and Antiretroviral Adherence among People Living with HIV , Charlotte Ann Noble

The Tampa Gym Study: An Ethnographic Exploration of Gyms, Female Gym-Goers and The Quest for Fitness in Tampa, FL , Danielle Reneé Rosen

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Forensic Anthropology Dissertation module (CA41003)

You will have the opportunity to conduct an independent research project in an area of forensic anthropology and be supervised by a one of CAHID’s academic staff. This brings together all that you will have learnt over the four year and can be either literature or laboratory based, making use of the equipment available within the University. You will select an area to investigate, this usually includes such areas as: biological profile assessment (age, sex, ethnic origin, stature), trauma analysis, taphonomic research, ethics of skeletal assessment, application of forensic practise to archaeology. You will write a dissertation about your topic and present your project at a presentation open to the staff and students of CAHID. As part of this module you will learn:

Independent learning skills
How to critically review literature and understand, summarize and compare scientific articles.
How to present your work in an engaging and clear manner.
How to work with a supervisor in a professional and courteous way to get the most out of your time.
An understanding of ethics procedures for all projects and risk assessment requirements for practical projects

This module is available on following courses:

Forensic Archaeology, Taphonomy & Trauma Laboratory Group

The Forensic Archaeology, Taphonomy, and Trauma Laboratory Group researches forensic anthropological field methods, postmortem changes to remains, and skeletal trauma. These topic areas all afford expanding frontiers in forensics that are highly suited for thesis projects, and incoming students are highly encouraged to pursue these fields. Forensic Archaeology covers all methods of field recovery, including burials and surface deposits, and pursues new applications of technology for mapping and recording sites and improvements to field methods. Forensic Taphonomy covers all changes during the postmortem period from death of the organism until the recovery of its remains. These changes include the processes of decomposition and what environmental factors affect its rate and form; scavenging by invertebrates and vertebrates; alteration of bones by vertebrates and the diagnosis of these alterations; dispersal of remains by human activities, other mammals, birds, and natural forces; subaerial weathering of bone and other natural forces to surface-exposed remains; alterations brought about by burial, including root penetration, soil staining, acidic dissolution, and coffin environments; and cultural practices to bone, including storage, handling, display, and ritual. Forensic Trauma covers alterations to bone by human agencies, including ballistic, blunt force, sharp force, and thermal vectors, and the diagnosis of these from each other and taphonomic alterations. This research includes the effects of dismemberment and subsequent thermal alteration upon the ability to diagnose bone trauma.

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forensic anthropology dissertation ideas

BU Forensic Anthropology Program students performing surface search for bones as a part of a research project into surface scene recovery methods.

BU Forensic Anthropology Program students participating in a cemetery headstone project in Charlestown, MA.

Wetlands at the Outdoor Research Facility in Holliston, MA.

BU Forensic Anthropology Program students learning burial excavation techniques.

Experimentally induced bone weathering for taphonomic research at BU Forensic Anthropology Program.

Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) scavenging pig remains as a part of a taphonomy experiment at the Outdoor Research Facility in Holliston, MA

Google Earth Pro image of the Outdoor Research Facility in Holliston, MA.

James T. Pokines, Ph.D., D.-A.B.F.A.

Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology
Forensic Anthropologist, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Fellow, American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), Anthropology Section
Former Vice President and current Diplomate (No. 68) of the American Board of Forensic Anthropology (http://theabfa.org/)

Email: [email protected]

Ph.D., University of Chicago M.A., University of Chicago B.A., Cornell University

Biography: Dr. Pokines is an A.B.F.A. board-certified forensic anthropologist and also a zooarchaeologist, and his research has included Tiwanaku sites in Bolivia and Peru, Paleolithic sites in Spain and France, Classical site in Egypt, neotaphonomic sites in Kenya, and early hominin sites in South Africa. He is currently engaged in a multi-site research program in the Paleolithic of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, including Wadi Zarqa Ma’in near the Dead Sea and the Azraq Oasis in the eastern desert. Dr. Pokines also brings twelve years of prior forensic anthropology experience from the Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii, where he ran forensic excavations in locations including the U.S., Tibet, China, North Korea, South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Iraq, and Greenland. He is also concurrently the Forensic Anthropologist at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and provides all forensic anthropological analysis for the state.

FA 700 Professional Development (co-instructor)
FA 703 Zooarchaeology and Comparative Vertebrate Osteology
FA 800 Field Methods in Forensic Anthropology
FA 802 Applied Forensic Anthropology
FA 807 Taphonomy
FA 808 Forensic Trauma Analysis
FA 810 Mortuary Archaeology

The Forensic Anthropology Program at the Boston University School of Medicine maintains a 32-acre Outdoor Research Facility (ORF) in Holliston, MA, less than 30 miles west of the campus. This facility includes a large research building for storing materials and performing research and a fully fenced decomposition field surrounded by unfenced land that allows natural scavenging species free access. The acreage is primarily mixed forest and is bisected by natural wetlands that have been used for taphonomic experiments. Large areas are available for all manner of outdoor taphonomic projects, including scavenging, decomposition, weathering, burial, dispersal, and field recovery. Trauma projects, including burning The program also trains the students in crime scene procedures and forensic archaeology and maintains a separate classroom building. Laboratory facilities are also available on campus and include dermestid beetle colonies and facilities for maceration, soil analysis, thermal alteration, histology, and inflicting blunt force. Total station training is also standard curriculum, and this equipment is available for field projects. Students have also performed joint projects with the faculty of the Biomedical Forensic Sciences Program (https://www.bumc.bu.edu/gms/bmfs/) at the Boston University School of Medicine that have included the effects of thermal alteration upon DNA recovery and burial and decomposition upon the recovery of traces of narcotics.

Other projects in taphonomy have used other Massachusetts resources in conjunction with other organizations, including the University of Massachusetts, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and the Massachusetts State Police, which have loaned marine space for taphonomic experiments. The Holliston Fire Department, in their adjacent training facility, has supplied safety support and controlled burning all major thermal projects, including house and vehicle fires for trauma and field recovery theses.

Publications and Theses

This section is expanding rapidly due to the high levels of student interest, and new projects are begun frequently. Upon acceptance to the Forensic Anthropology Program, Dr. Pokines will discuss with you many possible thesis topics in this area help you shape any project’s focus, development, implementation, analysis, write-up, and publication.

Student Thesis Projects:

Laboratory Group Peer-Reviewed Articles:

Christensen, A. M. and J. T. Pokines (2020) Discovery context of skeletal remains received at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Laboratory. Forensic Anthropology 3(1):1-5.

Pokines, J. T. , M. M. Udoni, S. Sanders Stark, S. Cassidy, M. L. Atkinson, E. Church, C. L. File, M. K. Green, M. D. Herrera, G. S. Kilroy, B. N. Peace, B. J. Purcell, A. S. Reinman, A. M. Sanchez, and S. J. Springman (2019) Success rates of recovering teeth and infant-sized bones dispersed among leaf litter. Forensic Anthropology 2(3):168-177.

Federchook, T. J ., J. T. Pokines , K. Crowley, and C. M. Grgicak (2019) Recovery of DNA from teeth exposed to variable temperatures. Forensic Anthropology 2(3):143-151.

Pokines, J. T. , S. Robinson , J. Mansz , N. Heidel , K. Jasny , J. Gilligan , A. Carmona , J. Kroll , S. Lavigne , and S. Calle (2019) Success rates of forensic surface search for osseous remains in a New England, U.S.A. environment. Forensic Anthropology 2(1):9-20.

Pokines, J. T. , K. Mammano , M. Studebaker-Reed , J. Mowery , M. Patterson , C. Schneider , B. Trapp , and C. Mincher (2018) Success rates of recovering dispersed bones among leaf litter. Forensic Anthropology 1(4):189-200.

Berger, J. , J. T. Pokines , and T. L. Moore (2018) Analysis of class characteristics of reciprocating saws. Journal of Forensic Sciences 63(6):1661-1672.

Pollock, C ., J. T. Pokines , and J. Bethard (2018) Organic staining on bone from exposure to wood and other plant materials. Forensic Science International 283:200-210.

Pokines, J. T. (2018) Differential diagnosis of the taphonomic histories of common types of forensic osseous remains. Journal of Forensic Identification 68(1):87-145.

Pokines, J. T. and C. Pollock (2018) The small scavenger guild of Massachusetts, U.S.A. Forensic Anthropology 1(1):52-67.

Pokines, J. T. , K. Faillace , J. Berger , D. Pirtle , M. Sharpe , A. Curtis , K. Lombardi , and J. Admans (2018) The effects of repeated wet-dry cycles as a component of bone weathering. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 17:433-441.

Newcomb, A. , J. T. Pokines , and T. E. Moore (2017) Taphonomic effects of mechanical plowing on buried juvenile remains. Journal of Forensic Sciences 62(1):67-73.

Pokines, J. T ., N. Appel , C. Pollock , C. J. Eck , A. G. Maki , A. S. Joseph , L. Cadwell , and C. D. Young (2017) Anatomical taphonomy at the source: Alterations to a sample of 84 teaching skulls at a medical school. Journal of Forensic Identification 67(4):600-632.

Pokines, J. T ., C. J. Eck , and M. E. Sharpe (2017) Sources of skeletal remains at a chief medical examiner’s office: Who finds the bones? Journal of Forensic Identification 67(2):278-299.

Pokines, J. T. , R. Sussman , M. Gough , C. Ralston , E. McLeod , K. Brun , A. Kearns , and T. L. Moore (2017) Taphonomic analysis of Rodentia and Lagomorpha bone gnawing based upon incisor size. Journal of Forensic Sciences 62(1):50-66.

Yucha, J. P., J. T. Pokines , and E. J. Bartelink (2017) A comparative taphonomic analysis of 24 trophy skulls from modern forensic cases. Journal of Forensic Sciences 62(5):1266-1278.

Pokines, J. T. , S. A. Santana , J. D. Hellar , P. Bian , A. Downs , N. Wells , and M. D. Price (2016) The taphonomic effects of eastern gray squirrel ( Sciurus carolinensis ) gnawing upon bone. Journal of Forensic Identification 66(4):349-375.

Pokines, J. T ., R. E. King , D. D. Graham , A. K. Costello , D. M. Adams , J. M. Pendray , K. Rao , and D. S. Siwek (2016) The effects of experimental freeze-thaw cycles to bone as a component of subaerial weathering. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 6:594-602.

Pokines, J. T. and K. Springer (2016) A case of localized corrosion on bone caused by chemical contact. Journal of Forensic Identification 66(3):173-186.

Pokines, J. T. (2016) Taphonomic alterations to terrestrial surface-deposited human osseous remains in a New England, U.S.A. environment. Journal of Forensic Identification 66(1):59-78.

Pokines, J. T. and J. De La Paz (2016) Recovery rates of human fetal skeletal remains using varying mesh sizes. Journal of Forensic Sciences 61(S1):S184-S189.

Pokines, J. T. , D. P. Zinni, and K. Crowley (2016) Taphonomic patterning of cemetery remains received at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Boston, Massachusetts. Journal of Forensic Sciences 61(S1):S71-S81.

Pokines, J. T. (2015) Taphonomic alterations by the rodent species woodland vole ( Microtus pinetorum ) upon human skeletal remains. Forensic Science International 257:e16-e19.

Pokines, J. T. (2015) Identification of nonhuman remains received in a medical examiner setting. Journal of Forensic Identification 65(3):223-246.

Pokines, J. T. (2015) Taphonomic characteristics of former anatomical teaching specimens received at a Medical Examiner’s office, MA. Journal of Forensic Identification 65(2):173-195.

Pokines, J. T. (2015) A procedure for processing outdoor surface forensic scenes yielding skeletal remains among leaf litter. Journal of Forensic Identification 65(2):161-172.

Pokines, J. T . (2015) A Santería/Palo Mayombe ritual cauldron containing a human skull and multiple artifacts recovered in western Massachusetts, U.S.A. Forensic Science International 248:e1-e7.

Pokines, J. T. and N. Higgs (2015) Macroscopic taphonomic alterations to human bone in marine environments. Journal of Forensic Identification 65(6):953-984.

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Anthropology Research Topics And Writing Ideas For Students

Writing an anthropology research paper is in a lot of ways similar to writing an argumentative essay in other disciplines. Usually, the significant difference between these essays is how you support your idea. While you may use only literature to prove your point in an argumentative essay, you may need to employ textual proofs from artifacts, ethnographies, etc., in an anthropology essay.

Research in anthropology could be thrilling, particularly if you have many anthropology project ideas. Anthropology studies the evolution of human culture and therefore provides a wide range of anthropology essay topics that spill into history, biology, sociology, etc. Many anthropological research projects borrow from other social sciences. It is easy to feel that overwhelming grip on your chest if you’re unable to choose an anthropology research topic.

How to Write an Anthropology Research Paper

Guide how to write an anthropology research paper, the excellent list of 110 anthropology research paper topics, physical anthropology research paper topics, medical anthropology research paper topics, cultural anthropology research paper ideas, best cultural anthropology essay topics, biological anthropology research paper topics.

Forensic Anthropology Research Paper Topics

Are you worried because you don’t know how to write an anthropology paper? Writing an anthropology paper could be so much fun if you can nail the basics. It is not as bad as people paint it to be, especially if you get writing help from our professional writers . With the right anthropology paper format, anthropology research topics, and anthropology research paper examples, you’re set to go!

If you’re a big fan of doing lots of things in a short time and with fewer efforts, then you’re in the right place. This guide is full of the tips and skills you need to arrange your ideas properly. It also contains anthropology paper examples, anthropology paper topics, and other life-saving tips you may need. Ready to know how to start an anthropology research paper? Let’s delve right in!

How do you get started on an anthropology research paper? Below is the most comprehensive list on the internet to get you home and dry in record time!

Review the Assignment Guidelines
Develop a Topic
Outline your Paper
Do some Library Research
Write a Rough Draft
Write the Paper
Edit the Paper

We shall shortly expound on this list to help you better understand them.

Review the Assignment Guidelines: your professor may give you some guidelines to follow. To avoid deviating from the instructor’s expectations, spend some time reviewing your assignment guidelines so that you know the exact things you need to accomplish. For example, confirm if there are any stated anthropology research methods and the likes. It is beneficial to have a writing schedule. If you have a lot of time in your hands before the submission time, spreading out the workload will help to ease some of the stress. If you’re naturally a binge writer, sit at your computer early and bleed!
Develop a Topic: search for some anthropology research paper ideas and choose from the vast array of anthropology research topics available. Select a topic that revolves around a guiding question. This topic should connect on a deeper level to the theme of the course. The length requirement for the paper will help you know if your topic is too big, too small, or just good enough. For a short paper, you may want to focus on a particular culture or event in the context of a broader topic. Ensure that your thesis focuses on anthropology and that it draws from anthropological theories or ideas. Now, do a quick search to confirm if there are scholarly materials available for this topic. It is easier to write a paper with some available references.
Introduction/Abstract
Library Research: now, start the research on your topic, preferably from course materials. A bibliography at the end of a relevant course reading is also a great way to get other related materials. Depending on the requirement of the assignment, feel free to search for other books or articles.
Write a Rough Draft: during your research, endeavor to make proper jottings and references, which will form the rough draft of your essay. A rough draft will help you create dots that you will be able to connect later on.
Title: Usually on a separate page and contains the abstract.
Introduction/Abstract : A short paragraph showing the road map of your thesis.
Body: Leverages your thesis and presenting your research in a detailed and logical structure.
Conclusion: The conclusion is a short paragraph that summarizes your fundamental theme and substantiates your thesis.
References: A citation of the resources you used in your paper. Follow the referencing style which your instructor chooses.
Edit the Paper: you may engage any of your friends to help you go through your essay. Make some final checks such as the length requirement, the format and citation style, spelling and grammatical errors, logical flow of ideas and clarity, substantial support of the claim, etc. Once you edit your paper, turn it in and accept an A+!

Without further ado, here are 110 anthropology research paper topics for free! With 18 topics each from the six main subcategories of anthropology, you can’t get it wrong!

Eugenics — its merits and demerits in the 21st-century world.
Human Origin: Comparing the creationist versus evolutionist views on the origin of man.
Ancient Egypt: The preservation of their dead and underlying beliefs.
Homo habilis: Investigating Contemporary facts supporting their past existence.
Drowning: Clarifying the cause of drowning by examining the physical and anatomical evidence.
Smoking and its effects on the physical appearance of humans over decades of indulgence.
Physical labor: Exploring its long-term impact on the physical appearance of humans.
The relationship of Kyphosis with human senescence.
Aging in Western Culture.
Skin color: Exploring the influence of the environment on human skin color across continents.
Species and language: Focus on ways species evolve across the world and ways language acquisition affects and influences culture.
Abiogenesis: Research about abiogenesis and how it affects human development
Animal stability: How captive animals are different from those that live in the wild.
Henry Walter: The ways Henry Walter contributed to the field of physical anthropology.
Cephalization: The process of cephalization and what it entails.
Genotype: The environment correlation study.
Genetics: What does genetic hijacking mean?
Altruism: Do people learn altruism or it is an acquired state.
Applying the Concepts of Ethnozoology in medicine.
Critically Assessing the fundamental posits of critical medical anthropology (CMA).
The 2014 Ebola virus outbreak in Africa: Evaluating the success of control interventions.
Exploring the applications of Ethnobotany in medicine.
Nuclear disaster: A research into the life of survivors of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986.
HIV/AIDS: The reasons for prevalent societal infamy and the way forward.
HIV/AIDS epidemic in Europe: Exploring the roles of commercial sex workers in the spread of the disease.
Alternative medicine in China: A comparative review of its weaknesses and possible strengths in the light of Orthodox medicine.
HIV/AIDS in Africa: A critical assessment of extensively troubled nations and populations.
Depression in South-East Asia: Sheer social noise or severe threat?
Adult’s onset diabetes: Research on how diabetes is a major health issue in aboriginal populations in The U.S and Canada.
ARV rollout: The role of the ARV rollout and campaigns in Africa.
Sexual diversity in Africa: Research on whether sexual diversity in Africa is being taken into account to help fight against AIDS.
Chemicals and radiation waste: How the radiation waste and chemicals in the air are affecting people.
Mercury poisoning: The effects of Mercury poisoning in Minamata, Japan, and the measures to help put the situation under control.
Health: The health ramifications of adapting to ecology and maladaptation.
Health: Domestic healthcare and health culture practices
Clinic: Clinical interactions in social organizations.
Growth: Difference between growth and development.
Engineering: Genetic engineering and what it entails.
Marriage: Marriage rituals in different cultures.
Magic: Belief in magic and the supernatural.
Mythologies: The effects it has on modern culture.
Anthropology: How to use anthropology as forensic science.
Heroes: Studies of heroes in different societies.
Education: How education differs around the world.

Cultural anthropology discusses human societies and their cultural origin, vacation, history, and development. Here is a look at cultural Anthropology topics:

Women in Africa: The various challenging roles that women in Modern Africa play and how they handle it.
Homelessness: How homelessness affects and influences the culture and social landscapes.
India: Methods and measures that India is taking to deal with the issue of homelessness and measures they have put in place to deal with social landscapers.
Political science: Highlight and discuss the link between cultural anthropology and political science.
Superstition: Research ways that superstition affects the way of life.
Sexual discrimination: The evolution of sexual discrimination and its effects in modern times.
African cultures: Investigating how different religions and beliefs impact African culture.
Northern Nigeria: How the basic religious beliefs that influence forced nuptials among the children in North Nigeria.
Gay marriage: The background on gay marriage and how it influences the cultural and social backgrounds.
Racism: Explain racism and its existence in modern times.
Religious practices: Ways how religious practices and beliefs affect culture.
Culture shock: What it is and ways that people can work through it.
Ethnocentrism: Ways that you can use to minimize it.
Ancestors: A view of ancestors in African culture.
Religion: Religious practices in a particular society.
Culture: About the Rabari culture in India
Definition of culture
How culture anthropology links to political science
Alcoholism: Looking into the socio-economic and cultural history in Eastern Europe.
Assessing the effects of radioactivity on populations affected by the nuclear disaster of 2011 in Fukushima Daiichi.
Gay marriage: Exploring the biological aspects of same-sex weddings in North America.
Minamata disease: A critical look into the origin, populations affected, and transgenerational impact of this disease on Japan.
Asthma disease in Yokkaichi: A critical look into the cause, people affected, and transgenerational effect on Japan.
Itai-Itai disease: A critical look into the cause, populations affected, and transgenerational effect on Japan.
Nuclear bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki: An investigation of the transgenerational effects on the health of affected victims to this present time.
Cocaine use in America: A critical look into the health impact on American cocaine users.
Making Marijuana use legal in America: Possible woes and beneficial outcomes.
Cystic fibrosis: Justifications for its preponderance in white populations in America.
Biological Anthropology: Research on the meaning and definition of biological Anthropology and how it influences different fields.
Paleoanthropology: Explore ways Paleoanthropology uses fossil records to draw biological anthropology compassion and conclusions regarding human evolution.
Human social structures: Explain the development of human social structures using biological anthropology.
Biological anthropologies: Research on some primary geographical locations where biological anthropologies used to research their work.
Human language: Research how biological anthropology helped in the development of human language and communication.
Body projects: The changes and the valued attributes.
Political ecology: The Vector-borne and infectious disease.
Clinical Interactions: What are clinical interaction and social organization?

Forensic Anthropology Research Paper Ideas

Radioactive Carbon dating: A critical assessment of the accuracy of this dating technique.
Human Origin: Pieces of evidential support for Creationist and Evolutionist views on the origin of man.
Assessing the accuracy of DNA evidence testing and matching on criminology.
Neanderthals: Exploring environmental influences and migratory paths on their survival and appearance.
Dating Techniques: A critical review of current archaeological dating techniques.
Ancient Egypt Mummification: A critical look at the effectiveness of the methods used.
Nuclear disaster: A research into the impact of radioactivity on life forms due to the atomic catastrophe Chernobyl in 1986.
A critical look into recent evidence supporting the existence of Homo habilis in the past.
Crime Scene Forensics: Recent advances in the detection of crime.
Postmortem Changes: Investigating the primary agents responsible for biological changes in humans.
Criminal procedure: Research a case with a confession scenario and highlight unique features of the case.
Criminal procedure: Do your research on the criminal proceedings in a given area and what makes them effective.
Computer forensic: Ways that the computer forensic help in preserving electronic evidence.
Digital forensic: Research about the history and features of digital forensic.
History: Ways that Israel presents itself as a leader in computer forensics.
Oncology: The latest archaeological dating methods.
DNA: How accurate is DNA evidence in the matching and testing criminology?
Crime detention: The recent improvements of crime detection.

So here we are! Fifty juicy topics that are all eager to wear some flesh! Ready to have an A+? Let’s do it!

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Forensic Science Research Topics

Here is a list of forensic topics for research that you will enjoy working on!

Culprit identification through skeletal remains
Using forensic dentistry to solve crimes: the good, the bad, and the ugly
The correlation between legal ethics, forensic dentistry, and crime-solving
Forensic attestations – Types, a chain of custody, collection, and analysis
Identifying relations, ancestry, and family using forensic anthropology
The use of forensic psychology in evaluating the probability and the incidence of the rate of rape
Forensic science – what hair and fibers can tell us about crime cases
Poison chemistry – reliability and accuracy of results
Forensic ballistics – what bullets can tell about crimes
Forensic evidence: How to assemble the criminal jigsaw pieces.

Forensic Psychology Research Topics

Forensic psychology is psychology related to the law. The field includes the implementation of sciences to its system. Also, it deals with the conjoining of human habits/characteristics and criminal law. Psychologist in the field of forensic helps to unriddle specific data in a case, data such as who must have committed the crime, what must have propelled the criminal to make such kind of act, and how the felon must have strategized the situation.

Therefore, forensic psychology topics provide a range of profundity regarding the level of academic studies being initiated. Below is a list of topics in forensic psychology that can be of help:

Tracking the behaviors of lawbreakers
Should the death penalty be encouraged?
Victim reaction to crime
Can we rely on the memory of testifiers?
Sentencing and imprisonment practices
Do the FBI play important roles in forensic science?
How to approach settled differences in a DNA in forensics
Using animals for forensic science research: possible pros and cons
Incorporating arguments into forensic trials: better/more effective methods
Ethics and morals and how they affect forensic crime results

Hot Topics in Digital Forensics

Here is a list of digital forensics topics from the latest developments of digital forensics!

The effects of technology on building digital shreds of evidence
The function of biological pieces of evidence and DNA in the science of forensic
How evidence of fingerprint and pattern contribute to forensics
Explain the impact of Opioids and other illegal drugs on the study of forensic
How to trace evidence with the use of forensic
Conduct an analysis of evidence from patterns and impressions
The effect of virtual reality and simulations on forensic study
How to determine the criminals behind fire and arson through the study of forensic
The effect of automation and miniaturization in forensic anthropology
Forensic science and the importance of nanoparticles in the field.

Forensic science is a compilation of applied disciplines that draws from the branch of science. The forensic science discipline is complex and involves methods that range from DNA analysis to pattern recognition. Below are some forensic topics for research

Chemical Sciences: Why is forensic chemistry unique?
The paradigms of forensic science: A critical diagnosis
Forensic science and the accuracy of age estimation
Possible research challenges faced in the forensic medicine field
Forensic science and survey courses rendered
The genetic approach to forensic science and prevalent problems
Contribution of forensic science to efforts of wildlife conservation.
How can racial estimation be determined more accurately?
The effect of natural changes on the scene of a crime and accuracy of forensics
How grand innovations affect and challenge the forensic community

Forensic Science Topics Research Paper

Do you have a research paper to write on forensic science? You will surely need some reliable topics for that research paper to make it excellent. Here is a list of forensic science research paper topics!

Family members and fingerprints pattern similarities: a reliable source of tracing?
Forensic anthropology and the identification of trauma and disease history
Forensic anthropology: The identification of size, age, and gender of victims
Fingerprint testing powders: Better formulation for clearer results
How to gather forensic pieces of evidence: A closer look
The pivotal roles played by DNA methylation in forensic science research
Historical Setbacks in forensic study development: Analysis and a closer look at the causes
The interconnectivity between chemistry and traced evidence
Forensic document examination: A better approach
Redefining forensic research: A newer outlook

Forensic Research Topics

Do you need some excellent forensic research topics? Well, look no further! Here are some excellent forensic topics for research for you!

A closer look at the laws and principles guiding forensic science
What roles does forensic Genealogy play in solving age-old cases?
Postmortem findings and forensic anthropology: A review
What does the future hold for the field of forensics: Job opportunities and upcoming specialization?
Identifying blunt force trauma in victims
Independent forensic consultants: how reliable are their qualifications in forensic science?
How forensic science has developed since its inception: A look at challenges and advantages.
Geographic forensic medicine and its important roles
The function of DNA methylation in forensic science
The interconnectivity between forensic medicine and clinical research

Forensic Anthropology Research Topics

Below are some forensic topics for research under anthropology

Area of the crime: what information they can pass across to us?
How do professionals get traced evidence?
Professional blood pattern analysis: Who an individual is and how they can be of help?
The juxtaposing of soil in forensic anthropology
Rigor Mortis as the cognitive factor of the individual death
Information Footprints from a crime site can pass across
The significance of the scene of the crime
The construction of an individual outlines characteristics
The aggravation of Intentional death as a result of coerced drowning
Hair samples that is not the property of the victim as a possible lead to the attacker

Forensic Science Topics for Presentation

Do you want to make a presentation on an aspect of forensic science? Below are some detailed forensic science presentation topics you could pick from

The reconstruction of the human face makes use of the residues of their skeleton
Having a detailed knowledge of various methods used in forensic anthropology
Techniques to acquire the DNA test of an unwilling subject
Recognizing cell types and body fluids through RNA based techniques
The category of flies that assembles on an inanimate body signifying the time of death
Techniques to recognize the skeletal remains of human subject
Techniques used in educing fingerprints from a crime setting
The function of forensic science in tracing recipients of human trafficking
Strategies and apparatus used by forensic pathologists
The significance of the Muscid fly to forensic science

Computer Forensics Research Topic

Computer forensic is a developing field in criminology to which is an impact on other disciplines most notable in the legal system. Students who are interested in the study of computer forensic can construct a thesis that probes through the subject and its relationship to evolving aspects of criminology and the legal system.

Some digital forensics research topics will also help to give a better understanding. Below are some digital forensic topics for you!

Digital forensic and occurrence response
The employment of digital forensic to internet crime analysis and inquiry
The satisfactory and spiteful sides of digital forensic
A survey evaluation of digital forensics as equipment assisting a criminal investigation
The necessity for standardization and accreditation in digital forensic
Enriching the quality of digital forensic examination reports
The analysis of networks in digital forensics
Equipment used in digital forensics
Examining and validating the digital forensic report
The analysis of network in digital forensic

Forensics Debate Topics

Debate forensics speech topics are.

The innovative nature of cybercrime
The credibility of geomorphological forensic in solving crimes
Soil mapping great assistance in providing solutions to crimes
The credibility of audio recording in forensic science
The essence of an eyewitness statement
The dilemma that accompanied juvenile judgment
Nanotechnology has an insight in the field of forensic
Digital forensic has been of great use in solving cyber crimes

National Forensics League Topics

Some national forensic speech topics may include.

The effect of age evaluation in forensic science
A thorough recognition of the paradigms of forensic science
Discuss the procedures of sanctioning forensic science laboratories
The effect of visual color comparison in forensic science
Parasites being one of the fastest Agent of Decomposition

Forensic Chemistry Research Topics

Chemistry forensic research paper topics may include:

Assessment of the amino acid fingerprint test
An intuition of Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry
An evaluation of water-soluble paper for forensic segregation
Are techniques of detection super-sensitive that they could lead to an error in conviction
An evaluation of authenticity regarding the crime, it’s situation, and the people involved
Discuss the process involved in the analysis of Y-chromosome
Analyze a usual day in the office of a forensic chemist
Expatiate on the limitation of using an environmental microscope
The use of atomic force microscope in the science of forensic
The function of paper spray mass Spectrometry in the recognition of perilous Chemicals

Forensic Medicine Thesis Topics

Forensic medicine deals mostly with examining and assessing individuals who have been wounded or may have passed away as a result of external or unnatural causes, such as suicide, poisoning, motor accidents, and other various forms of violence.

Examples of topics under forensic medicine thesis are:

Analysis of spinal sustaining damages in fatal road accident
Examination of sexual violence unnatural deaths
Analysis of suicidal death among adolescents
An analysis of snakebite occurrence admitted in the hospital
A study of eventual suicidal death among females
Study of lethal poisoning cases leading to gross stomach mucosal appearances
Study of homicidal deaths
Analysis of death due to thermal burns
Examination of patient’s with CRANIO -CEREBRAL injuries
An examination of dental eruption in children within the age group of 14 -16

Easy Forensic Science Research Topics

Are you in search of easy ways to find Forensic science topics for a research paper? Bother no more! Here are some topics just for you!

Discuss the importance of a forensic scientist giving a Precise testimony
An assessment of microscopic vetting techniques
The influence of private companies organizing forensic science
Validation to work as an independent specialist in the field of forensic science
The usefulness of digital Forensic in Solving homicide cases
Acquiring a proper Knowledge of the scientific and social surroundings of the criminal justice system
Disciplines of criminal justice and the law that guides forensic
Reasons why a vast number of forensic scientists work in forensic laboratories or morgues
The methods in which forensic craft out objective facts with the use of scientific knowledge
Ways forensic science assist in the analysis of physical evidence

So here we are! 120+ forensic science research topics just for you! Choose the topic that resonates with you the most and put in your best in the research or outsource it to an expert writing company! Don’t hesitate to reach a professional dissertation consultant and increase your chances of success!

Frequently Asked Questions

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155 best forensic science research topics for your paper.

Forensic science or criminalistics applies scientific methodology and principles to solving crime and aid criminal justice procedures and laws. This area of study covers many fields ranging from computer forensics to doctoral research and forensic psychology.

For students specializing in forensic science studies, it is common to have to write an essay, research paper, or dissertation on the subject’s topics. The tricky part here is to select the perfect topic from a wide array of forensic science topics for a research paper. You could work on something that focuses on a neglected area of study in the field or go in for a controversial topic. You can also pick a common topic and throw new light on it, or simply choose a topic highlighting societal trends.

Whatever you choose to work on, it is essential to clearly state your research question/topic, offer defensible logic, have a well-elaborated body and a concise conclusion to score well.

Here is a list of some of the most interesting research topics in forensic science, which will allow you to write a good essay and score well. Take a look:

Forensic Science Research Paper Topics

These are some common but good forensic science topics that are sure to get you great reviews:

Hereditary in fingerprints and pattern similarities among family members
Is it possible to solve crimes with forensic dentistry?
Understanding the crime through the skeletal remains of the victim
Victim identification through skeletal remains
The association between legal ethics, forensic dentistry, and crime-solving
Techniques of gathering DNA sample through buccal cell collection in possibly violent subjects
Using forensic anthropology to identify relations, family, and ancestry
Using forensic anthropology to identify the age, gender, and size of the victim.
Forensic evidence – Types, chain of custody, collection, and analysis
Using forensic anthropology to identify trauma and disease history
Forensic ballistics and how the type of weapon used can be confirmed?
Are standard hair tests accurate in racial estimation and solving crimes
How to develop the best fingerprint testing powder for unmatched result clarity
The role of forensic psychology in assessing the probability and incidence rate of rape
Forensic toxicology and its role in analyzing the effects of anti-stress drugs on military members
The growing need for researching the technologies supporting forensic geomorphology
Blood spatter studies that aid forensic science in solving crimes
Forensic microscopy – an insight
Hair and fibers – What they say in forensic science crime cases
Poison chemistry – how forensic experts work
Forensic investigations of WW1 and WW-II war graves
Forensic reconstructions – importance, role, and scope in solving crimes
The laws and principles guiding forensic science
Sawn-off shotguns — evaluating pellet distribution pattern based on barrel length
Mitochondrial DNA Analysis of skeletal remains – An overview of the technique
Forensic ballistics — what a bullet may tell about the crime and the weapon used
Forensic evidence — assembling the pieces to the criminal jigsaw
Drug detection timelines — an insight
Development and validation of the method used to assess the quality of friction skin impression for evidence
Fatal intoxication through Isotonitazine – A case study

Forensic Science Research Topics For High School

These are excellent topics for high school students, which are easy to work on and create impressive essays related to forensic science:

Comparing sibling fingerprints with strangers
Finding out if fingerprints of identical twins are also similar
Differences to quickly separate human skeletal remains from those of animals
Victim identification – What you must know about facial skeleton
DNA testing – uses and limitations
Different types of stab injuries are important from a forensic science perspective
The dental pattern of wild animals and ways to recognize them.
Blood spatter patterns and what they indicate about the crime
Creating blood spatter lab for better understanding of spatter patterns
Forensic science autopsy reports and what they indicate
Careers in forensic science and upcoming specializations
Forensic science and analysis of fiber evidence from the crime scene.
Good practices in forensic science laboratories
Handwriting analysis and how it helps forensic science professionals
The role of Forensic Genealogy in solving age-old cases
Iodine fuming to reveal latent fingerprints
Immunoassay techniques for protein identification
Thin Layer & Paper Chromatography to identify materials
Forensic art as a means to identify suspects
Gas chromatography to identify liquids

Interesting topics To Research That Have to Do With Forensic Science

These research topics related to forensic science will help you create an exciting write-up that will draw attention to your knowledge in the subject:

Studying the composition of cling film used to package illegal drugs to separate drug traffickers from consumers
Dense materials and their role in Geoforensics
DNA typing – Pros and cons from a crime-solving perspective
Using gene expression to assess the age of injury
Differences in stab injuries that confirm if wounds were antemortem or postmortem
The study of glass fracture pattern to assess bullet firing direction and distances
Ground-penetrating radar systems and their role in Geoforensics
Gamma-ray radiography and its role in crime-solving geomorphology studies
What insects tell us about the murder scene
The correct way to prepare a forensic autopsy report
Forensic psychology and law – an insight
The forensic science behind fire investigations
Organic chemistry and its role in forensic science for solving crimes
Mathematics and statistics — how they aid cases of forensic science
The forensic science behind identifying forgery and counterfeiting
Use of 3D imaging for visualization of footwear and tire impressions at the crime scene
Fluid dynamics study to assess bloody fingerprints at the crime scene
Audio recordings — interpretation and processing to build a case
Recorded gunshot sounds and how they are interpreted and analyzed to solve crimes
Cartridge case comparisons to assess pressure factors in firearms

Controversial Topics In Forensic Science

This is a collection of research paper topics for forensic science that is sure to spark a debate when discussed in class:

Are changes in the composition of cling film used for drug packaging of any forensic value to arrest criminals?
DNA typing — an analysis of the efficacy of this technique in identifying victims and unsolved crimes
Isotope ratio mass spectrometry — an analysis of accuracy concerning the crime, its conditions, and people involved
Flies that come on a dead body based on its location and time of death
Forensic psychology and its impact on instances of Military rape
Is forensic toxicology research lacking in assessing drug abuse among military personnel during combat?
Is Forensic geomorphology helpful in solving crimes?
Skeletal tissues and forensic microscopy — the role they play in solving crimes
Forensic science and how it makes the dead speak
Characteristics of Zopiclone degradation and consequences from a forensic toxicology perspective
Understanding what happens to the body when someone dies naturally vs. a violent death.
Criminal minds and their forensic psychology
The role of Trace DNA in criminal investigations and its reliability
Criminal profiling and the role of Forensic psychology in arresting the killer
Forensic victimology and its role in context with investigations and legal parameters

Forensic Science Topics For Presentation

Suppose you want to make a presentation on any aspect of forensic science. In that case, you can consider the topics given below as they provide sufficient scope and information:

How to extract fingerprints from a crime scene
Equipment used in crime scene fingerprinting and the process
How to identify skeletal remains of a human subject
Building the face of a human through the remains of their skeleton
Know all about the various techniques used in forensic anthropology
Cyber forensics – How to catch a hacker
Methods of DNA testing
Methods of DNA testing of unwilling subjects
Standard forensic hair tests used in forensic examinations
Identification of cell type and body fluid through RNA based methods
Types of flies that congregate on a dead body indicating the time of death
A detailed step-by-step guide to forensic deduction
Cyber Forensics – how to detect phishing
Forensic science – the basics of crime scene analysis
Forensic frauds and laws around examiner misconduct
Methods and tools used by forensic pathologists
Forensic autopsy Vs. Regular Autopsy
The Muscid fly and its forensic importance
The role of forensic science in tracking victims of human trafficking
Evaluation of footwear impression — a step by step guide of the Footwear Impression Comparison System (FICS)

Forensic Science Thesis Topics

Use any of the topics given below to write an impressive thesis that showcases in-depth knowledge. These topics provide ample scope to delve deeper into the subject and write after thorough research.

Fingerprint science — an insight
Crime scene fingerprinting — a detailed study
Forensic anthropology — an insight
Forensic anthropological techniques for a detailed history of the victim
Isotope ratio mass spectrometry — An Insight
Computer forensics and its role in solving cybercrime
Forensic toxicology and how it may help prevent military violence
The role of forensic anthropology in postmortem findings
DNA testing methodology — an insight into means available and their efficacy
Reassessment of Asphyxia and the Pink Teeth Phenomenon
Forensic psychology – differentiating sociopaths from psychopaths
Study of blood in forensic science
DNA typing – An insight into unsolved crimes and the use of this method
Nanotechnology in Forensic studies – An insight
Consumer protection in the world of growing cyber crimes and how cyber forensics can help
Forensic toxicology – An insight
Fingerprint ridge density and its relation with sex determination
Forensic geomorphology – an extensive study of the scope and application of this field of study
The history and evolution of forensic science
Medical Image security using digital watermarking – An overview
Anatomy of bruises and what they convey about the tracker and the victim
Forensic psychology – Understanding the characteristics of psychopaths for profiling.
High-Resolution Melt (HRM) assays – An insight
Human vaginal matrix and the analysis of condom evidence from a forensic perspective
Handprint dimensions for Sex classifications – the ABC model of forensic science

Current Topics in Forensic Science

These topics stem from the latest developments in forensic sciences and highlight the current environment in this field of study. Take a look:

Latest techniques in forensic science to catch murderers
Studying injury age using gene expression to solve the crime
Latest forensic science techniques used to identify illicit drugs
Developments in technology and chemistry that aid forensic science like never before
Latest illegal drug recognition systems – an insight
The amino acid fingerprint test – an evaluation
Identifying of Felidae Animals using Elemental Analysis of Hair and its Scanning Electron Microscopic Characterization
Pediatric Poisoning — Seasonal trends, materials and distribution across the UK.
The UK forensic science environment and what has changed
The changing scene of Geomorphology with gamma-ray radiography and ground-penetrating radar
How stable is the use of Zopiclone in forensic studies related to whole blood samples
Latest enhancements in RNA based methods for identification of cell type and body fluid
The emerging role of computer forensics in cybercrime and the latest developments.
Cyberwarfare and how cyber forensics fit in?
Geoforensics – how soil mapping aids in solving crimes
mRNA profiling assays and their role in reducing time and cost of analysis
Latest technologies used in the identification of body fluids
Latest trends in forensic odontology
Heartbreak Grass deaths — A toxicological and medico-legal analysis
Water-soluble paper analysis for forensic discrimination
A worldwide survey of issues in forensic science – A contemporary perspective
DNA study to assess regular occupancy in any vehicle
Methods of assessing authentic audio recordings using different voice apps
An insight into the DNA extraction process for DNA identification in bodies
One-handed strangulation – A reconstruction study to find the criminal

If you are looking to submit an impressive dissertation or essay on a topic on forensic science and are still confused about how to proceed, get in touch with us. We can help you find impressive topics for your dissertation and help with forensic science research proposal topics. We have a strong team of expert writers and provide an array of high-quality, professional writing services for college and high school students.

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Forensic Science Dissertation Topics

Forensic science is an especially intriguing area of study with many subtopics, including general issues, ethical issues, current and emerging issues, and Brexit. As a result, both undergraduates and postgraduates find forensic science to be a particularly favourable area of study to complete their dissertation in to obtain the highest possible grade and thus further both their academic and career aspirations.

In the event that you would like to write a dissertation in the area of forensic science, then it is clearly absolutely vital to select a title that allows for a depth of analysis of the literature that is already available and is befitting of undergraduate or postgraduate study. Therefore, the sections that are set out below will also highlight many of the most significant issues and debates that can currently be found in the area of forensic science.

General Issues

Ethical issues, current and emerging issues.

Forensic science is the application of the scientific techniques of information collection, experimentation, and observation to determine how historical events occurred, with the aim of providing impartial evidence that can be used in a court of law. The term forensic is derived from the Latin word forensic which referred to public meeting places termed a forum, where citizens would meet and debate criminal issues. Defendants would use these forums to present testimony of their innocence before a judge. It is this process whereby the term forensics has come to mean the acquisition of legal evidence that can be presented in a court. It is also for this reason that forensic evidence is expected to follow rigorous scientific and empirical methods of verification and falsification and to be consequently trustworthy. Below is a selection of general forensic science dissertation topics:

An assessment of the reliability of evidence relating to superficial heat damage on arsonists’ clothing.
Assess the capacity for forensic dentistry together with legal ethics to solve crimes.
Examine the efficacy of studying aging injuries and injury age estimation using gene expression methods.
Consideration of the amalgamation of England’s police forces: Is there consistency in forensic services across the country?
A comparison of the two illicit tablet recognition systems being used in the UK of Pill-ID which focuses on colour, and the other which focuses on shape and pattern recognition. Also assess the utility in combining the two approaches.
Assess the consistency of different police forces in the United Kingdom in the forensic techniques being applied, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of amalgamation of force forensic departments.
Assessment of using environmental pollen analysis to identify counterfeit cigarettes.
Assess the effectiveness of recovering DNA from handwritten documents through the use of the dry vacuuming technique.
Investigate the potential of keystroke biometrics as a forensic tool of user profiling.
The effects of microwave radiation on the digestion of proteins in body fluid identification.

Professions such as forensic science differ from trade-based forms of work in that they are generally governed by a self-imposed ethical code of conduct, which all practitioners must adhere to. Below are some examples of ethics related dissertation topics:

Dry-labbing or the claim that laboratory analysis has been conducted when it has not, has become an issue in a number of high-profile cases in recent years. How should the problem of dry-labbing be addressed by forensic scientists?
What impact is the increasing use of private forensic consultants, who may not be subject to the usual disciplinary codes, having on forensic science?
Investigate the claim that outsourcing of forensic science work to private contractors in the UK has led to declining standards.
To what extent is the use of results from genetic research to put ethnic and racial labels on the samples encountered at a crime scene an ethical problem for forensic science?
What ethical problems currently exist with the collection, storage, access to, retention and sharing of DNA samples?

Advances in technology and society’s growing dependence on technology is changing the ways in which crimes are committed as well as investigated. The world currently stands on the threshold of a range of emerging technologies that will provide new opportunities for criminality and simultaneous challenges for law enforcement. The most notable example at present is the threat posed by cybercrime. However other technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and blockchain are some examples of radically new areas that will bring radical change. Some dissertation topics in this area are presented below:

How prepared is the field of forensic science for developments in technology and by extension technology enabled crime?
How advanced is forensic science in dealing with crime committed on the dark web?
What are the advantages of blockchain technology in assisting digital forensics?
Analyse the commonly used methods in forensic cryptocurrency investigations in light of internationally accepted legal standards.
Assess the effectiveness of forensic science in analysing the way cryptocurrency payment flows are used in a wide spectrum of criminal activity.
Contamination: evaluate the efficacy of USB devices and remote monitoring software in the management of sex offenders’ computer use.
What are the potential forensic challenges to the Internet of Things (IoT) and its enhanced potential for cybercrime?
Examine the emerging field of IoT forensics.
What specific uses does Deep Learning, which is a sub-set of Artificial Intelligence, have for cyber-forensics?

Brexit has and is having a decisive impact on many areas of the British economy and society. Britain has benefited from the evolutionary changes to police and judicial cooperation in the EU. These have included being part of Europol, Eurojust, the EU’s arrest warrant and forensic data sharing. These benefits have also applied to the area of forensic science particularly in terms of participation in scientific funding and collaboration of the EU’s research programs. However, Brexit is arguably occurring at the worst of all possible moments as the coronavirus global pandemic has placed significant burdens on the resources of the criminal justice system at a time when it is already suffering from government underfunding. A key question therefore is how the UK’s criminal justice system generally and forensic science in particular manage now that the UK is no longer a member of the EU. Here are a few dissertation topics that arise from the current Brexit situation.

To what extent is Brexit likely to damage the future sustainability of UK forensic science?
Investigate the impact of Brexit on forensic data sharing with the European Union.
How will Brexit impact other developments that are already re-shaping UK forensic science capabilities and capacities such as digital and cyber forensic technologies and the use of Artificial Intelligence in forensic settings?
Assess the impact of the UK’s exclusion from European research programs on the global influence of UK forensic science and technology institutions.
Does Brexit pose any strategic opportunities to strengthen UK forensic science by broadening its professional, institutional, and economic base in areas such as public health and regulatory science?
Evaluate the viability of a shared European ballistics database in consideration of UK policing and criminal justice opt-outs.

Forensic Science Dissertation Topics: 20+ Ideas For Your Research

by Antony W

July 11, 2022

If you’re a student currently studying for a PhD in forensic science, you’ll need to write a dissertation in your area of study to graduate and earn your masters. That’s why it’s important to look at some forensic science dissertation topics to help you find an area to investigate further in your research.

Forensic science is an area of study that focuses on the application of science to civil and criminal law during criminal investigation. As a forensics student, you’ll learn how to examine traces of material evidence to determine what exactly occurred. Also, the study involves the presentation of impartial scientific evidence that the authorities can use in court.

Our guide to choosing dissertation topics , even for the field of forensic, remains unchanged. Choose an interesting topic, but one that you can explore within the scope or research constraints of the project.

With that said, let’s look at some interesting topics that you can start to explore right away.

Forensic Science Dissertation Topics

Here are some interesting forensic dissertation topics that are likely to catch your professor’s attention. Pick any of the topic depending on the selection criteria we’ve shared with you and present it to your supervisor for review.

1. General Issues in Forensic Studies

We can define forensic science as the application of scientific procedures such as data gathering, testing, and observation to discover how historical events occurred with the goal of generating unbiased evidence in a court of law.

Formally, the term forensic referred to public gathering spaces where individuals assembled to talk about criminal matters. Defendants would utilize these venues to testify in front of a court about their innocence. There has been an evolution to the term, which now refers to the act of collecting of legal evidence that the people involved in a case can produce in a court.

Notably, forensic science also involves the application of scientific and empirical methodologies to falsify or verify evidence to determine the trustworthiness of a case.

Some dissertation topics that you can research further in this category are as follows:

Is there uniformity in forensic services across England because of the unification of England’s police forces?
An evaluation of the efficiency of dry vacuuming approach to retrieve DNA from handwritten papers
Identification of the effects of microwave radiation on protein digestion in bodily fluids
Examine keystroke biometrics’ potential as a forensic technique for user profiling.
Examine the effectiveness of applying gene expression approaches to examine aging injuries and injury age assessment
An examination of the evidence linked to arsonists’ clothing that has suffered superficial heat damage
Environmental pollen analysis as a method for detecting counterfeit cigarettes

Also Read: How to Reference a Dissertation Project

2. Ethical Issues

In contrast to trade-based occupations, forensic science is controlled by a self-imposed ethical code of conduct that all practitioners must follow.

The following are examples of great topics that you can explore in your dissertation project, if you decide to do a forensic project on ethical issues:

Examine the argument that outsourcing forensic scientific work to private contractors in the United Kingdom has resulted in a drop in quality.
What influence is the growing employment of private forensic consultants, who may not be bound by the same disciplinary rules as regular forensic consultants, having on the field of forensic science?
What ethical issues do you see with DNA sample collecting, storage, access, retention, and sharing right now?
To what degree is it an ethical dilemma for forensic science to utilize genetic research results to assign ethnic and racial designations to samples found at a crime scene?

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3. Current and Emerging Issues in Forensic Science

The ways in which crimes are committed and investigated are evolving because of technological advancements and society’s growing reliance on technology. The globe is on the verge of a slew of new technologies that will open up new avenues for criminals while also posing new obstacles for law enforcement.

The most prominent example is the threat posed by cybercrime. Other technologies, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, are examples of completely new fields that will bring dramatic change in forensic investigation.

Some topics you can explore in this category are as follows:

Examine the effectiveness of USB devices and remote monitoring software in controlling sex offenders’ computer usage.
In light of globally accepted legal norms, examine the most often utilized approaches in forensic bitcoin investigations.
What are the applications of Deep Learning, a subset of Artificial Intelligence, in cyber-forensics?
What are the forensic issues posed by the Internet of Things and its increased criminal potential?
What are the benefits of using blockchain technology to aid digital forensics?
Examine the use of forensic science in analyzing the usage of cryptocurrency payment flows in a variety of criminal activities.
How well equipped is forensic science for technological advancements and, by extension, technology-enabled crime?

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Brexit has had and continues to have a significant influence on the British economy and society. The growth of police and judicial cooperation in the EU has helped the United Kingdom. These have included participation in Europol, the EU’s arrest warrant, and the exchange of forensic data. These advantages have been in the field of forensic science, notably in terms of scientific funding and collaboration with EU research initiatives.

One of the most pressing questions is how the UK’s criminal justice system and forensic science, in particular, can cope now that the UK is no longer a member of the EU.

Here are some of the best dissertation topics to consider following the present Brexit issue:

Examine the impact of the United Kingdom’s absence from European research programs on UK forensic science and technology institutes’ worldwide reach.
In light of UK policing and criminal justice opt-outs, assess the possibility of a shared European ballistics database.
Examine the implications of Brexit on the sharing of forensic data with the European Union.
What influence will Brexit have on other advances that are currently reshaping UK forensic science skills and capacities, such as digital, cyber forensic technologies, and the use of AI in forensic settings?
To what degree is Brexit going to jeopardize UK forensic science’s long-term viability?

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60 Forensic Science Dissertation Topics for Free

Best Forensic Science Dissertation Topics

What exactly is forensic science relevance to the real world, forensic science dissertation topics related to fingerprinting, criminology and forensic science dissertation topics, get good research topics for forensic science, best phd dissertation topics in forensic science, find new research topics in forensic science, one-stop solution to all forensic science dissertation topics.

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To assist all those like you who are writing a dissertation and looking for an intriguing topic for the same, experts from the Assignment Desk have created this blog, which includes a list of the best Forensic Science dissertation topics .

Before we delve into those fascinating streams, let's quickly explain Forensic Science.

Forensic science is a field of study or application that enables using scientific instruments, methods, and principles in investigating criminal activity. In the criminal justice system, forensic scientists investigate an incident to reveal the precise circumstances surrounding a crime.

Given its novelty, development, and demand, choosing forensic science as a profession is advantageous. Because it is a recently innovated field with enormous potential for growth and development. Also, it is required for determining the true nature of a crime, it is in demand as technology advances. Unlike other professions, forensic science practice never has a repeating day. You might test samples one day and evaluate the results on different days.

To properly investigate crimes anywhere in the world, forensic science is crucial. Without forensic development, it will be unclear facts to rely on for making life or death decision in criminology. Over time, forensics technology has become more and more in demand. Thanks to advancements in forensic technology, law enforcement now has access to more resources and tools. In addition, forensics has drawn more public interest.

Nonetheless, as critical and accurate mindset this job requires is also needed in its academic life. Students need help to write this in-depth, demanding dissertation. Some of the most challenging tasks are to choose the best Forensic Science dissertation topics and also pick your category. In this blog, we have focused on these two fields. We are most interested in helping you solve your worries and prepare a perfect dissertation .

In your further reading, you will learn about some of the most common sources from which students get their Forensic Science dissertation ideas . Also, get a detailed and analysed list of topics from subject matter experts.

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First, let's start with the most popular field of forensic science: fingerprinting. A large portion of this subject's research involved analysing the fingerprints of those involved in the incident. Being a student, you will be more interested in this subject area as it is one of the most popular Forensic Science dissertation topics . Below you will find a few of the best topics in the field of fingerprinting:

Evidence of fingerprints and pattern impressions' dependability
The tools and methodology used in crime scene fingerprinting
An understanding of fingerprint science
Finding fingerprints at a crime scene
Evaluate bloody fingerprints at the crime scene; use fluid dynamics
Latent fingerprints can be seen with iodine fuming
Comparing the prints of siblings with those of strangers
determining whether identical twins' fingerprints are similar
How do you create the top fingerprint-testing powder for noticeable results?
Family members' fingerprint patterns are similar, as is hereditary fingerprinting
Change in the finger prints of an individual throughout the age-spam
Test for amino acid fingerprints; evaluate
Fluid dynamics is used to assess bloody fingerprints at the crime scene

Writing a Forensic Science dissertation is a task in itself. But when you are asked to work on it from scratch, it takes much more time. We have tried our best to help you with that challenge. You will find exciting topics for a forensic dissertation here to help you choose quickly and efficiently.

Also Read: Dissertation Introduction Writing Isn't Hard Anymore! Read These 5 Tips

Another popular area of forensic science is criminology. It can also be called the basic idea behind the subject. The evolution of forensic science has taken a turn after its use in the criminal world. Choosing a theme from this study area can show the faculty that your mindset is very progressive. If you want to get early approval on your Forensic Science dissertation topics , pick one from this field:

Does lighting on the streets deter crime?
When writing about forensic science, should you focus on crime control?
Describe the risks associated with genetics and illegal forensic
Describe the function of psychometric tests in the criminal justice system
Describe the role that intelligent forensic devices play in enhancing security
Talk about how serial killers are portrayed in the forensic world
Write about initiatives taken by forensic science to reduce crime
Corporate criminals are members of the ruling class
How does forensic science stop terrorism?
Describe the impact of organised crime on the justice system with forensic science
Describe the phases and techniques used in forensic science research
Examine the crime scene inspection procedures
Describe the fundamental moral principles guiding police actions in contemporary society

Choosing this field will also give you confidence that your forensic science dissertation ideas are worthwhile. It is because this theme can obtain authority approval in a single step. You can also ask for some help from your senior, and they will also tell you the same thing about the field of criminology in forensic science.

Also Read: Dissertation Proofreading and Editing Made Easy with This 7 Step Guide

Every student aims to find good Forensic Science dissertation topics to get good grades. When preparing for exams and finishing pending academic papers, you need good options for your dissertation topic in very little time. In this section of the blog, we are providing you with a few sound issues below:

Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of DNA testing from the perspective of solving crimes
Utilising gene expression to gauge the age of the investigation
Explain the forensic methodology used in fire investigations
What can we learn about the crime scene from insects?
Describe the use of geomorphology studies and gamma-ray radiography in solving crimes
How should a forensic autopsy report be written?
A glass fracture pattern is used to determine the direction and distance of bullets
Describe how 3D imaging visualises shoe and tyre footprints at crime scenes
Describe how organic chemistry is used in forensic science to solve crimes
Discuss forensic psychology and the law
Utilising fluid dynamics, evaluate bloody fingerprints at the crime scene
How do statistics and math help forensic science cases?
What function do ground-penetrating radar systems play in geoforensics?

You can rely blindly on these 13 Forensic Science dissertation ideas for your paper. They can take you on a very smooth ride from selection to approval as it is the most critical aspect of the dissertation for students. This category can also be a fantastic choice when confused with many critical topics.

Also Read: How to Write a Dissertation Conclusion to Make a Perfect Ending?

Dissertation writing is a task that is usually assigned to students pursuing a Master's or PhD. In this part of the blog, you will find perfect themes that are ideally suited for a student doing a PhD. You can pick your best favourite Forensic Science dissertation topics from the below-given ideas:

Mobile device forensic techniques and data recovery
The use of DNA evidence has changed over time in the legal system.
The open-source digital forensics toolkit should be improved.
JTAG and ISP techniques for forensic investigation
The legal implications of entomotoxicology
Comparative analysis of Android mobile devices' digital forensic tools
Threat assessment and risk management
Technological advances in DNA sequencing
Computer forensics techniques and investigation
Efficacy of the current cloud forensic techniques
Forensic readiness plan for digital forensics in the criminal justice system
Collection and preservation of crime scene evidence
Technologies and approaches in forensic science

One speciality of a PHD Forensic Science dissertation topics is that they are always exact. They are direct and transparent with their intentions. If you are doing a PHD in forensic science, then make sure that your topic also contains all these traits to make it more attractive and likeable.

Also Read: 7 Dissertation Writing Mistakes No One Ever Told You About| Find Fixes Too

Innovation is the need of the hour. Also, it is required when you are preparing for your Forensic Science dissertation . Professors or academic advisors are keen to learn about the risks you take in your dissertation writing. So to keep them satisfied and working up to their expectations, pick a dissertation topics that is new and fresh. Try these below-mentioned themes and ideas if you wish to scale your grades to the top:

Describe the most recent forensic science methods for catching murderers.
Describe how soil mapping helps with crime solving.
Describe the most recent forensic science methods for locating illegal drugs.
Describe the procedures for assessing actual audio recordings with various voice apps.
Discuss current forensic odontology trends.
What cutting-edge methods are there for identifying bodily fluids?
Discuss the newest tools for analysing bloodstain patterns.
What role do drones, photogrammetry, and laser scanners play in forensic science?
What role does hacking software play in finding online digital footprints?
Describe the limitations of hair and ballistic analysis.
Are the forensic science industry's self-regulatory codes adequate?
Do specific forensic science techniques support racial profiling?

You can use these Forensic Science dissertation examples or suggestions to be out of the box They are picked especially by experts to make your process of approval easy and smooth. Trusting those who have experience with such subject will be better then actually work up your armature mind on something you are not good at.

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Any academic paper's success is based on selecting the right topic and theme. So to be able to write an excellent Forensic Science dissertation , you will have to pick the perfect case that aligns with your music and guidelines. You can select from the above 60+ suggestions listed in this blog. Once you have found the ideal topic for your paper, state your statement and questions clearly and directly.

And if, even after that, you have yet to learn how to choose your Forensic Science dissertation topics , seek professional help. Reaching out to experts can assure you the solution your papers need. We at the Assignment Desk have a team of expert writers with years of experience and ability to craft a perfect paper. They can help you secure your dissertation with a perfect theme and title. If you are stuck with dissertation topic selection, the only way out is to use our services.

In this world of modern digital formats for all types of work, you should also find solutions to your issues in a minute. It is because, like forensic science, it is an asset to the world in finding hidden secrets about an incident. Dissertation help online can also appear as a similar wealth for you.

Writing a dissertation has always been difficult. Students are scared of this academic task the most. If you are among the same group of students who fear this paper, and since you don't want to lose grades, it is best to look for help. This key element can add a lot to your task of writing perfect dissertation . Be very rational when it comes to your academic grades. This paper is essential for your future, not just for college.

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Forensic science focuses on the methodologies and strategies used to analyse and examine criminal evidence and other biological samples. Forensic science has revolutionized law and helped identify long-lost family members. It's an important field of study and students should choose interesting forensic science dissertation topics for their research.

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Selecting the best forensic science dissertation topic involves considering your interests and the relevance of the research to current forensic challenges. Explore diverse areas, such as forensic anthropology research topics and forensic chemistry research topics, ensuring alignment with your expertise and contributing to advancements in the field.

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Recent Dissertation Topics in Forensic Science
From digital forensics to forensic psychology, the chosen dissertation topics reflect the evolving challenges and advancements in solving complex legal puzzles. Forensic DNA Analysis: "Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) in Forensic DNA Profiling: Opportunities and Challenges". "The Impact of DNA Transfer and Secondary DNA Transfer in ...
Forensic Science Dissertation Topics
Topic 5: Determining the effectiveness of blood spatter studies in identifying the nature and timing of crime at crime scenes. Topic. 1: Forensic science in the 20th century and today. Topic. 2: Case Study of the criminal cases and convictions resolved through forensic science. Topic. 3: Role of botany and entomology in the forensic science.
Recent Advances in Forensic Anthropological Methods and Research
This Special Issue, "Recent Advances in Forensic Anthropological Methods and Research", with thirteen articles covers a wide range of highly diverse topics within forensic anthropology. Topics ranging from innovative approaches to critical reviews have received much attention, with more than thirteen thousand views during the past year.
Recent Advances in Forensic Anthropological Methods and Research
This Special Issue, "Recent Advances in Forensic Anthropological Methods and Research", with thirteen articles covers a wide range of highly diverse topics within forensic anthropology. Topics ranging from innovative approaches to critical reviews have received much attention, with more than thirteen thousand views during the past year.
299+ Forensic Science Research Topics (Updated 2024)
Top 20 Research Topics For DNA Analysis. Advances in Next-Generation Sequencing Technologies. Application of DNA Phenotyping in Criminal Investigations. Forensic Use of Microbial DNA Analysis. Ethical Implications of DNA Data Sharing. Rapid DNA Testing in Law Enforcement. Epigenetics and Its Role in DNA Analysis.
Thesis Projects in Forensic Taphonomy
Given the recent growth in the field, some students in forensic anthropology may find it difficult to devise an affordable, suitable, and ideally publishable thesis topic. Taphonomic projects often can fill this role, as many do not require a large budget, are experimental in nature, thus giving students greater control over the data that they will collect, and on topics that have not received ...
Full article: Recent advances in forensic anthropology
Recent advances in forensic anthropology. Forensic anthropology involves diverse applications of anthropological knowledge to medico-legal problems. While the applications are evidence-driven, the available scientific methodology and foundation have developed through decades of research and experience. The roots of this field are anchored in ...
Recent advances in forensic anthropology: decomposition research
Abstract. Decomposition research is still in its infancy, but significant advances have occurred within forensic anthropology and other disciplines in the past several decades. Decomposition research in forensic anthropology has primarily focused on estimating the postmortem interval (PMI), detecting clandestine remains, and interpreting the ...
Forensic Anthropology as a Discipline
Bethard found that based solely on the focus of dissertation subjects, representing the focus of graduate research projects, forensic anthropologists have increasingly pursued forensic anthropological research topics, rather than bioarchaeological or other more general biological anthropology topics, particularly since 2005.
PDF The Accuracy of The Biological Profile in Casework: an Analysis ...
This dissertation examines the accuracy of the biological profile from forensic anthropology reports among 204 resolved and 284 unresolved skeletal cases at the medical examiners' offices in New York City, NY; Harris County, TX; and Pima County, AZ. Current forensic anthropological methods used to estimate the biological profile are
Anthropology Theses and Dissertations
Theses/Dissertations from 2022. PDF. An Assessment of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Individuals Gender Affirming Health Care Practices in the Greater Tampa Bay, Sara J. Berumen. PDF. Mound-Summit Practices at Cockroach Key (8HI2) Through the Lens of Practice Theory, Chandler O. Burchfield.
Forensic Anthropology Dissertation module (CA41003)
Module code. CA41003. You will have the opportunity to conduct an independent research project in an area of forensic anthropology and be supervised by a one of CAHID's academic staff. This brings together all that you will have learnt over the four year and can be either literature or laboratory based, making use of the equipment available ...
forensic anthropology: Topics by Science.gov
Critical issues in the historical and contemporary development of forensic anthropology in Australia: An international comparison.. PubMed. Mallett, Xanthé; Evison, Martin P. 2017-06-01. The aim of this brief critical qualitative analysis is to examine the development of forensic anthropology in Australia, at a time of significant change in the discipline. It will briefly summarise its ...
Forensic Archaeology, Taphonomy & Trauma Laboratory Group
The Forensic Archaeology, Taphonomy, and Trauma Laboratory Group researches forensic anthropological field methods, postmortem changes to remains, and skeletal trauma. These topic areas all afford expanding frontiers in forensics that are highly suited for thesis projects, and incoming students are highly encouraged to pursue these fields.
List Of 110 Research Paper Topics & Ideas On Anthropology
The Excellent List Of 110 Anthropology Research Paper Topics. Without further ado, here are 110 anthropology research paper topics for free! With 18 topics each from the six main subcategories of anthropology, you can't get it wrong! Physical Anthropology Research Paper Topics. Eugenics — its merits and demerits in the 21st-century world.
Top Forensic Science Research Topics
Forensic Science Research Topics. Here is a list of forensic topics for research that you will enjoy working on! Culprit identification through skeletal remains. Using forensic dentistry to solve crimes: the good, the bad, and the ugly. The correlation between legal ethics, forensic dentistry, and crime-solving.
155 Forensic Science Research Topics
Use any of the topics given below to write an impressive thesis that showcases in-depth knowledge. These topics provide ample scope to delve deeper into the subject and write after thorough research. Fingerprint science — an insight. Crime scene fingerprinting — a detailed study. Forensic anthropology — an insight.
Forensic Science Dissertation Topics
Forensic Science Dissertation Topics. The goal of forensic science as a discipline is to use scientific principles and practices to solve crimes. The term " forensic science " relates to an ongoing discussion that concerns the legal system. Therefore, forensic science is an important part of scientific processes, including specific ...
Forensic Science Dissertation Topics for FREE
Below is a selection of general forensic science dissertation topics: An assessment of the reliability of evidence relating to superficial heat damage on arsonists' clothing. Assess the capacity for forensic dentistry together with legal ethics to solve crimes. Examine the efficacy of studying aging injuries and injury age estimation using ...
Forensic Science Dissertation Topics: 20+ Ideas For Your Research
Forensic Science Dissertation Topics. Here are some interesting forensic dissertation topics that are likely to catch your professor's attention. Pick any of the topic depending on the selection criteria we've shared with you and present it to your supervisor for review. 1. General Issues in Forensic Studies.
60 Forensic Science Dissertation Topics for Free
One-Stop Solution to All Forensic Science Dissertation Topics. Any academic paper's success is based on selecting the right topic and theme. So to be able to write an excellent Forensic Science dissertation, you will have to pick the perfect case that aligns with your music and guidelines.You can select from the above 60+ suggestions listed in this blog.
Forensic Science Dissertation Topics
Research Aim: This research, which is one of the forensic psychology dissertation topics, aims to discuss the history and advancements in the field of forensic science and how it has totally changed the criminal justice system. It collects its data from different surveys and research journals. One can compare the results of previously solved crimes and the recently solved crime cases to know ...

Recent Dissertation Topics in Forensic Science

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Forensic Science Dissertation Topics

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Latest Forensic Science Dissertation Topics

Topic 2: Investigating the impact of medical imaging technologies for determining the cause of and manner of sudden death to potentially interpret evidence of foul play

Topic 3: An evaluation of the impact of forensic odontology on solving crimes and legal ethics.

Topic 4: Evaluation of the impact of forensic anthropology on the identification of age, gender and size of crime victims.

Topic 5: Determining the effectiveness of blood spatter studies in identifying the nature and timing of crime at crime scenes

Topic. 1: Forensic science in the 20th century and today

Topic. 2: Case Study of the criminal cases and convictions resolved through forensic science

Topic. 3: Role of botany and entomology in the forensic science

Topic. 4: The impact of swift changes and innovation in technology on the forensic science

Topic. 5: Future of forensic science

Topic. 6: Forensic science and ethical dilemmas

Topic 7: Process of victim identification through skeletal remains

Topic 8: The future of forensic anthropology

Topic 9: Value of crime scene photography in forensics

Topic. 10: Drugs and Forensics

Topic. 11: Reliability of fingerprint and pattern impression evidence

Topic 12: The downsides of forensic science

Topic. 13: Geographic forensic science

Topic. 14: Nuclear forensic science

Topic. 15: Role of RNA in forensic science

Topic. 16: Role of Blood spatters in solving crimes

Topic. 17: Forensic frauds and their penalties

Topic. 18: History of Forensic Science

Topic. 19: Understanding Antemortem, Perimortem, and Postmortem

Topic. 20: Forensic science and facial recognition

Topic 21: The Role of Forensic Anthropology in Mass Disaster Victim Identification.

Topic 22: DNA Profiling and its Application in Forensic Investigations.

Topic 23: Digital Forensics and Challenges and Innovations in Cybercrime Investigations.

Topic 24: Forensic Entomology: Advancements in Estimating Postmortem Interval.

Topic 25: The Effectiveness of Forensic Odontology in Human Identification.

Topic 26: The Use of Isotopic Analysis in Forensic Investigations.

Topic 27: The Use of Geographical Profiling in Serial Crime Investigations.

Topic 28: The Role of Forensic Genetics in Ancestry and Kinship Analysis.

Topic 29: Forensic Botany: Investigating Plant Evidence in Wildlife Crime Cases.

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Forensic Anthropology as a Discipline

Marin A. Pilloud

Derek Congram

Associated Data

Simple Summary

1. Introduction

The Divergence of Bioarchaeology and Forensic Anthropology

2. Disciplinary Expertise

3. Ethics, Expertise, and the Role of Professional Organizations

4. Why Do We Need Professional Ethical Guidelines?

5. The Need for Disciplinary Qualifications

6. Conclusions: A Way Forward

Author Contributions

Institutional Review Board Statement

Anthropology Theses and Dissertations

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022