Purdue Makes the Case for Forensic Entomology

Purdue University is offering the first formal area of concentration in forensic entomology ever worldwide, according to forensic sciences program director Trevor Stamper.

“Nobody has ever done this before,” Stamper said in a press release from ag.purdue.edu. “There have been other classes taught in forensic entomology, but they’ve never had a formalized program that is entirely focused on it.”

Stamper said that pre-law and pre-med students are only a few examples of those that could benefit from the new program. “This concentration would make students well-suited to be a crime-scene technician and would give them an advantage because they would have the ability to take the American Board of Forensic Entomology technician certification as they graduate. It also makes an excellent entomologist. It’s a very versatile area of concentration.”

Stamper, who was deeply involved in the establishment of the new concentration, is excited to see years of planning come to fruition. “I was part of the team that recently redesigned the Insect Biology major. At the same time, we began conversations about what a new area of concentration might look like. It was my job to plan the next steps. As the new Insect Biology major was taking shape, I was making notes on how we could transform it with an area of concentration.”

He continued, “We teach many classes in forensic science that have very little entomology in them, but there’s a ton of entomology that is forensic in nature. We’re now highlighting that with a new series of forensic entomology core courses.”

Source: ag.purdue.edu