Forensics geology

Forensic geology is becoming a well established field of research and practice.

"The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) Initiative on Forensic Geology was established at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France on 22 Feburary 2011. The aim of the IUGS-IoFG is, ‘to develop forensic geology internationally and promote its applications’."

The IUGS Initiative moving forward with publication of A Guide to Forensic Geology and two reference books are coming out shortly. The website history shows the idea of forensic geology got started in 1975 with the publication of Forensic Geology by Murray and Tedrow. But it wasn't until 2002 that a presentation to the UK House of Commons kicked off interest in formalizing the field.

My friend Sarah Andrews published her first geo-murder mystery featuring forensic geologist Em Hansen in 1994, and 10 more after that so far. Here in Arizona, geologist-writer Susan Cummins Miller writes her own forensic geology mystery series featuring Frankie MacFarlane.

A tip of the hat to Andrew Alden for first blogging about this