New building and lab expand capabilities for forensic anthropology training and identification services at UT.
UT’s Forensic Anthropology Center (FAC) took a substantial leap forward this spring with the opening of the new Forensic Anthropology Laboratory, adding much-needed space and capability that strengthens its already renowned international legacy of research, teaching, and service.
The laboratory is housed in a new 2,725-square-foot secure building connected to the center’s William M. Bass Forensic Anthropology Building. It features six evidence examination tables, an evidence closet, and a room where human remains are prepared for forensic analysis. A conference room provides a dedicated space outside of the secure area where staff can meet with investigators from partner agencies to discuss cases. The room will be named for author Simon Beckett, a longtime supporter of the FAC and the graduate students who train there.
These new features enable the center to offer expertise on a greater number of missing-persons cases from law enforcement and medical examiner agencies. While they currently average around 30 human remains cases per year, the new lab allows them to triple this pace for collaboration with agencies from around the country.
“The FAC has been working on forensic casework for 50 years, but the expectations and the standards of forensic science in general have changed,” said FAC Director Giovanna Vidoli. “This lab allows us to not only keep up with the expectations of forensic science but exceed them and really be at the forefront of what is expected in the field.”
The impact of meeting these expectations for the FAC’s professional community was emphasized by Special Agent Brandon Elkins, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, during the dedication event for the lab on April 17.
“Tennessee is blessed to have the greatest forensic anthropologists in the whole world,” said Elkins. “This facility helps ensure that that legacy and great work continues. It strengthens collaboration between law enforcement, researchers, students, and forensic professionals. It ensures that the next generation has the tools necessary to continue this important work—work that makes a difference not only in investigations, but in the lives of people.”
Unparalleled Access for Student Experience
The new lab expands hands-on training opportunities for forensic anthropology graduate students to learn the intricacies of putting a name to unidentified human remains—bringing valuable closure for families and strengthening the center’s mission of service to the community.
“We have a program for graduate students called F-Track,” said Steadman. “That allows students to be trained towards being a primary analyst. They work cases with us, and they will be working in this laboratory.”
Student experiences on more cases—and more diverse types of cases—builds highly competent skills for careers in forensic fields.
“Having a lab space where multiple analysts can be working on cases means more students can be involved,” said Vidoli. “That graduate student involvement is incredibly important, because then we have the better capacity to train them to be able to be employed with strong forensic anthropology casework experience.”
Landmark Accreditation
The Forensic Anthropology Lab is a major step toward accreditation under standards established by ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, which will make this the first accredited forensic anthropology lab at an academic institution.
“ISO provides accreditation to all sorts of industries,” said Vidoli. “For example, professional builders want the steel that they use to be ISO accredited.”
The lab allows the center to meet ISO requirements for competence, impartiality, and consistent operation of inspection facilities and programs. With criteria met, the FAC will now seek accreditation through an applicable governing body. Accredited status, expected to take place within the next year, has long been in the sights of the center’s leadership.
“The goal that I’ve had since I came here in 2011 was to become the first accredited academic forensic anthropology laboratory,” said Dawnie Steadman, FAC director emeritus. “We have made huge strides towards that, but the last remaining piece was the space.”
by Randall Brown