Sep 3 2008
Crime fiction will come face to face with science fact next week (9 September) as some of the UK’s top crime authors and a group of real-life CSIs put fictional forensics under the microscope.
World renowned scientific institute The Macaulay Institute will delve into the science behind fictional crime, when it presents the ‘Murder, Mystery and Microscopes’ event next week (Tuesday 9th September) as part of the annual BA Festival of Science at the University of Liverpool.
The event will involve readings from their novels by three of the biggest names in crime fiction - Val McDermid, Peter James and Margaret Murphy - whilst four of the country’s top forensic experts will be on hand to reveal all about the science behind these stories.
The audience of more than 500 will also see the first demonstration of how computerised maps are being combined with detailed information on soil and vegetation types to help the police narrow down areas of search, or even to check alibis – a system that has been developed by Macaulay Institute scientists and their collaborators, supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
Dr Lorna Dawson, Head of Soil Forensics at the Institute said: “The ‘Murder, Mystery and Microscopes’ event aims to inform and entertain people about the science behind fictional crime, by bringing together crime authors and forensic experts. We hope to provoke some captivating conversations, intrigue, amuse and enlighten everyone who attends.”
Each author will read out short excerpts from their own crime novels, followed by an explanation of the science behind the fiction by one of the experts. Amongst the many science areas covered will be cyber-crime, arson, post-mortems, geoforensics, anthropology and DNA analysis.
Author Margaret Murphy said: “This is a unique opportunity to hear what the scientists think of the way in which science is presented in fiction. True-crime buffs, crime fiction readers, aspiring writers – in fact anyone who has even a passing interest in crime - will be fascinated by the insights provided by the experts.”
The event, hosted by the BBC’s Quentin Cooper, will close with a book signing by the authors, and an opportunity for the audience to question both authors and scientists.
Further information on the event can be obtained from event organiser Dave Stevens ([email protected]) at the Macaulay Institute.
For more information on microscopy, click here.