Spring Session   

April 29, 2025  Fieldwork, Foundations and Forensics

8 part Lecture Series: Tuesdays 3-5pm 

LIFE Institute TMU Institute https://thelifeinstitute.ca/page/tuesspr2025

Step into the fast-paced world of forensics through the lens of an anthropologist. This dynamic lecture series traces the evolution of investigative techniques, from the earliest methods to cutting-edge technology used at crime scenes today. Throughout this visually impactful course, we’ll uncover the science, strategies, and surprising twists behind identifying criminals and solving crimes.

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​​Fall Session

Oct 6, 2025  Evidence, Dignity and the Dead

University of North Carolina Wilmington 
This lecture explores the role of forensic anthropology in human rights investigations, focusing on the scientific, ethical, and political dimensions of locating and identifying victims of mass violence, genocide, and state-sponsored disappearances. Drawing on real- world casework and international protocols, the talk highlights how forensic evidence contributes to truth-telling, justice, and reparation efforts. Key themes include documentation practices, trauma analysis, and working with affected communities, as well as the challenges of navigating cultural, legal, and political barriers in post-conflict and transitional justice contexts

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Oct 6, 2025  Bodies and Commodities

University of North Carolina Wilmington 

This talk examines the global networks through which human remains circulate, often outside of legal or ethical oversight. From anatomy labs and museum collections to private dealers and online auctions, the lecture investigates the routes, justifications, and grey zones surrounding the acquisition, trade, and display of the dead. Emphasis is placed on the concept of the “undisposed” dead, those bodies and body parts that exist outside traditional burial, donation, or memorial practices. The discussion addresses key issues such as posthumous rights, institutional responsibility, and the historical legacy of colonial and medical exploitation.

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​​Oct 9, 2025  Murder, Medicine and Mayhem

8 part Lecture Series: Thursdays 3-5pm

LIFE Institute TMU 

This gripping series unpacks the strange origins of medicine, a place where snakes, saints, and scalpels collide. Featuring early anatomy theaters, the rise of specimen collections and the underworld of grave robbing, we follow the trail of artists, surgeons, and scholars in their use of the human body. Along the way, we discover how human dissection established state authority, Renaissance art, and the foundations of legal medicine.

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