Hot topics - Forensic science
Forensic science has entered our homes through television programs such as CSI and captured our interests in this amazing world of science.
Forensics involves a range of specialists who work together piecing the information together to help solve a crime. We now have more advanced technologies in chemistry, physics, biology, medicine and investigation of trace evidence. For example, the development of photography into a mobile form of documentation has helped both at crime scenes and in laboratories. Similarly, advances in medical technology have resulted in benefits in the area of forensic medicine.
In criminal cases, forensic scientists are often involved in the search for, and examination of, physical traces which might be useful to establish or exclude an association between suspects and the scene of the crime or victim. These traces may include chemical substances, hair, body fluids such as semen and blood, shoe and tyre imprints. Some other areas of specialisation include drug and alcohol analysis, firearms and explosives, fingerprints and document examination.
This Hot Topic will introduce you to the interesting world of forensic science. It will provide an understanding of how scientific knowledge is applied to assist the police in the conduct of criminal investigations.
Table of contents
Find books and other material in the State Library South Bank Collections:
Please note: links on this page to State Library of Queensland catalogue searches and to non-State Library websites will open in a new window.
View our resources on the following topics:
- Chemistry, forensic
- Criminal investigation
- DNA fingerprinting
- Expert evidence
- Forensic ballistics
- Forensic computer security
- Forensic psychology
- Forensic pathology
- Forensic sciences
- Medical jurisprudence
Or use your own keywords.
Find film and television material
Forensic science has long been a staple of television crime series, while real life cases such as that of Lindy Chamberlain have generated miles of TV and film footage. The State Library can link you with much of this from its own collections and through its role as Brisbane Access Centre for the National Film and Sound Archive, giving Queenslanders access to Australia's national audiovisual archive. A wide variety of material can be requested from Canberra for viewing on State Library premises. Contact us for further information.
State Library of Queensland Audiovisual Collection
The audiovisual collection of the State Library includes feature films, documentaries and a selection of Australian television series. To search for AV material, access our catalogue and select audiovisual materials before searching for keywords such as 'forensic'.
Examples from our collection:
- Robert Caswell writer 1989 - an interview with Peter Thompson in which Caswell speaks about the research and script development for Evil Angels
- Bodywork - a documentary which aims to remove the mystery of death by interviewing people who work with the dead, such as nurses, doctors and forensic pathologists.
National Film and Sound Archive
Search the NFSA online catalogue [new window] using keywords such as 'forensics' or 'Lindy Chamberlain'.
The following are a sample of what NFSA holds:
- Episodes of Halifax F.P and Murder Call.
- Australian cop shows including Blue Heelers, Homicide and Matlock Police.
- Feature film Evil Angels.
- TV news footage of the Lindy Chamberlain and Peter Falconio cases, plus interviews and documentaries.
Find articles in online databases:
Try the searches below, or create your own combination of keywords.
No login is needed to access these databases onsite at the State Library of Queensland.
Please note: To access these database links from your home or any offsite computer connected to the Internet, you need to log in to each database. Log in to Queensland offsite databases using your Queensland public library account or a State Library e-services card.
Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre - combines Australia and New Zealand specific magazines, newspapers, newswires and reference titles.
- Forensic sciences
- DNA fingerprinting
- Forensic toxicology
- Forensic anthropology
- Crime scene investigators
- Medicolegal investigation
- Document examiners
Encyclopaedia Britannica Online - a reference site for students, educators and parents, it includes editorially reviewed websites and the Encyclopaedia Britannica.
ProQuest Science Journals - a collection of journals in full text and image formats, covering a wide variety of subjects within the sciences.
Find websites:
For further information on forensic science visit the following online resources and websites:
Australian Federal Police Services [new window] -Information on our federal forensic police services in Australia and many areas of forensic science such as articles and fact sheets on forensic investigations.
Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society [new window] - The ANZFSS exists to promote forensic science, for practitioners, teachers and students. It offers lectures, demonstrations and discussion on all facets of forensic science.
Zeno's forensic science site [new window] - Zeno’s provides comprehensive information on forensic science, forensic psychiatry and other aspects of forensic evidence. It has extensive links to other forensic websites.
Forensic science resources on the Internet [new window] - The scope of this site is to bring together a range of online resources available to researchers in the forensic sciences. Suitable for people interested in learning more about forensic science information services.
Crime and clues [new window] - This site covers study of crime scenes, fingerprinting techniques, DNA analysis, and demonstrative, physical, testimonial and behavioural evidences. It provides a directory of links to criminal investigation and to workshops and training programs.
Forensic entomology [new window] - Forensic entomology involves knowledge of the life cycle of insects in the investigation of crimes. This site details the life cycle of insects, and provides information on investigative and sample collection procedures and equipment.
Latent-prints [new window] - The site focuses on latent fingerprints, latent print examination and fingerprint identification.
International Association for Identification [new window] - The International Association for Identification (IAI) is the oldest and largest forensic organisation in the world. The site provides forensic related links, information on training, conferences, job opportunities, publications and more.
Forensic-Evidence.com [new window] - Information on forensic science, law and public policy for lawyers, forensic scientists and educators. Provides information on all areas of forensic science such as articles on bite marks, firearm and toolmark evidence.
More information
Last updated: 11th May 2009
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