UWP criminal justice students present research at conference
PLATTEVILLE - Students from the criminal justice department of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville attended recently the American Academy of Forensic Sciences annual conference in Washington, D.C. Lecturer Aric Dutelle accompanied students, Marissa Johnson and Michael Annable, as they presented their research on the "Decomposition Rates of Hog Carcasses in Southwest Wisconsin."
Johnson and Annable conducted research at the university farm during the month of October. Hog carcasses were placed at designated areas and the decomposition rates were measured.
"This type of research has not been done in the Midwest." Annable said, "Most of this research has been done in warmer climates like in Texas, Florida, Hawaii and Tennessee. The study of decomposition is used to help in the field of criminal justice in getting an estimate of time of death."
Johnson and Annable presented a poster of this research while at AAFS. The AAFS scientific meeting gathers more than 3,000 world-renowned professionals to present the most current information, research and updates in their respective fields. This year, more than 700 scientific papers, seminars, workshops and other special sessions were presented.
As part of the AAFS conference, Annable and Johnson were able to participate in a "Young Forensic Scientists Forum." This opportunity allowed Annable and Johnson, along with approximately 75 other students, the chance to attend lectures on a variety of forensic related topics and interests, and also to have lunch with forensic professionals.
Before leaving the nation's capital, the students toured the White House and had a four_hour tour of the United States Secret Service Forensic Division laboratory personally guided by the lab director of the USSS.
"The criminal justice department's inaugural attendance at this event was a remarkable achievement and a credit to the hard work and dedication of the students," Dutelle said. "Michael and Marissa endured several hundred hours of collecting data, organizing it and then assembling it for presentation. They are commended for their efforts and for the manner in which they represented UWP."
Contact: Aric Dutelle, lecturer, UWP Department of Criminal Justice, (608) 342-1596, dutellea@uwplatt.edu. Prepared by: Nicole Eggebeen, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, eggebeen@uwplatt.edu
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