1600hr, Thursday 1 November, James Watt Conference Centre 1, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton Campus

The public lecture is by Professor James Robertson, of the Forensic Laboratories of the Australian Federal Police, Australia, on the importance of soil forensics in criminal investigation.

The title of the presentation is "Digging for Clues. How soil is helping to solve crimes."

The lecture is open to all, but pre-booking is required. Please complete the registration form below to pre-book tickets. Alternatively, email the ticket hotline. Posters of the event are available as downloads.

Professor James Robertson, Forensic Laboratories of the Australian Federal Police, Australia

Originally a graduate of the University of Glasgow in Agricultural Botany, James completed a PhD in plant physiology at Glasgow. Following a short Post Doc in London he entered the world of forensic science in 1979 as a lecturer at the University of Strathclyde. Amongst his early interests was the forensic examination of soils.

A move to Australia in 1985 saw James working in the South Australian Centre for Forensic Sciences before becoming the first non sworn head of forensic services with the Australian Federal Police in 1989. James is now National Manager Forensic and Technical (F&T) and in charge of about 400 staff with offices across the country with the main laboratories located in Canberra. F&T provides a very broad range of forensic and technical services in support of the AFP’s local (Canberra), national and international policing and law enforcement roles.

James has retained an active involvement in academia, has published widely and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Technology, Sydney and at the University of Canberra. He is very active in numerous advisory and policy committees in academia and government. He has worked on a number of major commissions of enquiry into wrongful convictions. Recently, he was awarded the Australian Public Service Medal for services to forensic science and law enforcement.