Critical Conversation: The Science of Crime Scene Investigation

Valerie Blackmore, Liam Hendrikse and Anthony Morgan

Critical Conversation: The Science of Crime Scene Investigation

Valerie Blackmore, Liam Hendrikse and Anthony Morgan

7:30pm

Saturday, June 4, 2022

TIFA’s most provocative conversation series returns, exploring thrilling new themes for MOTIVE audiences. Each day of the Festival, authors and experts will come together to examine a new facet of the culture and politics that shape the world around us and the books we read.

Crime scene investigation is one of the most fascinating aspects of crime storytelling, often sensationalized in books, television and film, yet also so often inaccurately portrayed. Learn how to filter the fact from the fiction, and discover how science and research play a vital role in many writers’ processes, in this insightful conversation about following evidence, and deciphering the true stories it tells.

Panelists Valerie Blackmore, Founder of Wyndham Forensic Group; Liam Hendrikse, registered expert in firearms and ballistics; and Nicole Novroski, Assistant Professor and Forensic Geneticist at the University of Toronto, will discuss the latest scientific advances in criminal investigations.

Host: Anthony Morgan

Ticket Info:
Date & Time: June 4 at 7:30pm ET
Where: Studio Theatre in Harbourfront Centre’s main building
Duration: 60 minutes
Ticket prices: $16.50 – Regular; $12.50 – Youth; or Get the All-Access Pass

This series is presented in partnership with the Provocation Ideas Festival.

Toronto International Festival of Authors book logo       PIF - Provocation Ideas Festival logo

Panel Discussion

TIFA’s most provocative conversation series returns, exploring thrilling new themes for MOTIVE audiences. Each day of the Festival, authors and experts will come together to examine a new facet of the culture and politics that shape the world around us and the books we read.

Crime scene investigation is one of the most fascinating aspects of crime storytelling, often sensationalized in books, television and film, yet also so often inaccurately portrayed. Learn how to filter the fact from the fiction, and discover how science and research play a vital role in many writers’ processes, in this insightful conversation about following evidence, and deciphering the true stories it tells.

Panelists Valerie Blackmore, Founder of Wyndham Forensic Group; Liam Hendrikse, registered expert in firearms and ballistics; and Nicole Novroski, Assistant Professor and Forensic Geneticist at the University of Toronto, will discuss the latest scientific advances in criminal investigations.

Host: Anthony Morgan

Ticket Info:
Date & Time: June 4 at 7:30pm ET
Where: Studio Theatre in Harbourfront Centre’s main building
Duration: 60 minutes
Ticket prices: $16.50 – Regular; $12.50 – Youth; or Get the All-Access Pass

This series is presented in partnership with the Provocation Ideas Festival.

Toronto International Festival of Authors book logo       PIF - Provocation Ideas Festival logo

Panel Discussion

Featured Authors

Valerie Blackmore
Valerie Blackmore is the President and CEO of Wyndham Forensic Group, a private forensic biology and DNA testing laboratory in Guelph, Ontario. Valerie’s career as a forensic biologist began in 1994 at the Government of Ontario’s Centre of Forensic Sciences following improvements to the justice system after the Paul Bernardo murders. In 2009, Valerie founded Wyndham Forensic Group and assists both police and defence counsel, cold case investigations and wrongful convictions. Her development work takes her to other places in the world. Valerie is currently working with the United Nations to develop forensic sciences in the occupied West Bank.

Read more about Valerie Blackmore

Liam Hendrikse
Liam Hendrikse was born in Nassau, Bahamas, and raised in the Toronto area. He graduated from McMaster University in 1995, and King's College University of London in 1998. He was a British Home Office Forensic Scientist from 1998 until 2006, where he specialized in firearms and ballistics. He now resides in Hamilton, acting as a consultant to criminal lawyers in North American and beyond, on matters relating to firearms and ballistics, in addition to working with post-secondary institutions on developing and delivering their Forensic Science programs.

Read more about Liam Hendrikse

Anthony Morgan
Anthony Morgan is an entrepreneur, game designer, PhD researcher. He's the former host of Discovery Channel's Daily Planet and one of the current hosts of CBC's The Nature of Things. He's spent close to 20 years working across multiple disciplines in science communication including live engagements at the Ontario Science Center, web series production for Asap SCIENCE and SciShow. He serves on the steering committee for Science Up First - a national organization for countering misinformation. His PhD research explores strategies and tools to reduce polarization and improve conversations around controversial science. He was recognized as one of Canada's top 10 millennial change-makers by the CBC.

Read more about Anthony Morgan

7:30pm

Saturday, June 4

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