Session ITS4.2/BG1.12

[Programme]

ITS4.2/BG1.12 | Scientific investigation applied to geological evidence and environment: the contribution of Earth and Natural Sciences in Forensic and Human-Environmental Interaction issues

Scientific investigation applied to geological evidence and environment: the contribution of Earth and Natural Sciences in Forensic and Human-Environmental Interaction issues

Co-organized by NH10

Convener: Roberta Somma | Co-conveners: Udo Zimmermann, Jason H. Byrd, Sebastiano Ettore SpotoECSECS, Luca Trombino

Orals

| Mon, 24 Apr, 14:00–15:45 (CEST)

Room 0.94/95

Posters on site

| Attendance Mon, 24 Apr, 16:15–18:00 (CEST)

Hall A

Posters virtual

| Attendance Mon, 24 Apr, 16:15–18:00 (CEST)

vHall BG

The use of geological evidence may help the judicial system to solve cases of homicides, corpse concealments, hit-and-run accidents, kidnappings, sexual assaults, geohazard problematics, environmental damages, animal maltreatment, wildlife crimes, gemstone and fossil frauds. Forensic geologists may be supported by a team of experts during the scientific investigation.
Earth and Natural Sciences may be simultaneously involved in a holistic approach for analyzing inorganic, anthropogenic, and organic materials found on the outdoor crime scenes. These sciences may also be devoted to environmental issues due to the human-environmental interactions responsible for crucial human-driven changes in the Anthropocene and hazards in which biodiversity, climate, and public health and safety are at stake.
Different analytical methods aim to obtain information on the compatibility degree among unknown and known samples and the possible provenance.
Based on the above, different experts may collaborate with geologists and investigate geological evidence and environmental issues, together in research teams. Geologists approaching forensic geology need to master sedimentology, micropaleontology, physical geology, petrography, gemology, geochemistry, hydrogeology, soil sciences, geomorphology, stratigraphy, regional geology, remote sensing, and applied geology and geophysics. Botanists address their investigation in forensic botany by studying plant ecology, vegetal anatomy, systematics, palynology, algology, and plant DNA in soil/sediment. On the other hand, entomologists approach forensic entomology by studying chemistry, biology, human/animal health, molecular science, and animal DNA in soil/sediment.
We encourage submission of studies presenting new insights derived from different inter-disciplinary- and transdisciplinary perspectives, including earth, natural, and environmental sciences (geology, geophysics, geochemistry, ecology, geological medicine, botany, entomology, ecology, and climatology applied to the Anthropocene Epoch), legal medicine, geological medicine. Particular attention will be given to the following topics: comparative analyses; reconstruction of walking in crime scenes; search for clandestine graves; geographical profiling; gemstone frauds; pollutants in groundwaters and soil matrices and environmental forensics; ecological and human health risks.