Professor Robin Williams - 13 October 2010

Professor Williams has recently shifted the focus of his academic work from the study of social theory to researching the way in which the police use forensic science in support of criminal investigations.  He will outline his current interest in the 'forensic imaginary' - the collectively imagined ability of expert practitioners to recover traces of biological and other materials from crime scenes and for the analysis of these traces to be used to identify criminal suspects and prosecute offenders.  He will also consider how these interests can contribute to the broader research programme of the recently-established Northumbria University Centre for Forensic Science.

Robin Williams has been Professor of Forensic Science Studies at Northumbria University since May 2009. He has researched and taught in Departments of Sociology at the Universities of Southampton, Manchester and Durham.  In addition to his post at Northumbria he is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Durham University and Visiting Professor at the Policy Ethics and Life Sciences Research Centre (PEALS) at Newcastle University.

The lecture will be held in lecture theatre 002 in the Newcastle Business School/School of Law building on City Campus East, and will be followed by light refreshments. If you would like to attend, please e-mail Colleen Carr at colleen.carr@northumbria.ac.uk by Friday 8th  October 2010.