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    Photograph of Professor Lorna Dawson

    Professor Lorna Dawson

    Head of Forensic Soil Science, James Hutton Institute

    Lorna’s research interests relate to the development and application of environmental tools in search and trace evidence in the Criminal Justice System. She is an Expert Witness, a Chartered Scientist and a registered expert with the National Crime Agency, having worked with many police forces in the UK and abroad and regularly present evidence in court.

    Lorna is head of Forensic Soil Science at the James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen and leads a team of scientists covering subjects including botany, mycology, palynology, mineralogy, organic and isotope chemistry, plant DNA and statistics, as applied to issues such as serious crime, the environment, food provenance and contamination. 

    As one of two SEFARI Advisors and the Sector Lead for Environment for the SEFARI Gateway project, Lorna works across research themes and knowledge exchange systems.

    She is a member of the British Science Association General Committee and is regularly involved in communication events, for example, Murder, Mystery Murder events working with crime authors and advisors in crime dramas. Lorna was awarded a Special Recognition Pride of Britain award in 2017 for contribution to the use of soil in criminal investigations and in the communication of science in relation to the understanding of science.

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