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Ontario Tech acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

Forensic Science students present projects at annual research event

Topics ranged from examining passport fraud to developing protocols for extracting DNA from bone

Forensic Science students looking through a microscope

Forensic Science students at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology are once again demonstrating why their program is among the best in North America.

One of the program's hallmarks is the annual Forensic Science Research Day, a showcase where graduating students present the findings of their Capstone (independent research) projects. The students summarize the findings of the research they have worked on throughout the year under the supervision of a forensic mentor; answer questions from the audience, which includes leading professionals in the field; and are assessed on their findings and conclusions.

This year’s featured research topics included:

  • Breath alcohol test devices and instruments
  • DNA extraction protocols
  • Fraudulent passport examination
  • Microspectrophotometry
  • Presumptive blood tests
  • Ultra-violet and infrared photography

"Students value the real-world experience Forensic Science Research Day offers, as well as the level of engagement it provides with the university’s faculty and professionals in the forensic science community,” said Kimberly Nugent, Forensic Science Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Science. “Most importantly, the event helps them hone their leadership and public speaking skills as they answer questions from peers and scholars in front of family and friends.”

Forensic Science Research Day also helps the program meet accreditation standards set out by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences’ Forensic Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC). The university’s program is one of only two in Canada to receive this prestigious award. FEPAC-accredited programs must follow stringent standards, and offer specific courses and material. A high level of practical ability is expected and rigorous assessment methods are compulsory. This helps ensure graduating students are highly trained and able to operate under FEPAC guidelines once they enter the workforce.