LOGAN – A Jane Doe is the center of a murder investigation at a local hotel. Who is she and where did she come from? The answer to these questions could come from a scientific investigation using stable isotope forensics.
The same technology can be used for less heinous crimes: Is that really orange juice you’re drinking? Is that pricey produce in your salad really organic?
Friday, March 21, Utah State University’s Science Unwrapped welcomes chemist and biologist Lesley Chesson, who’ll talk about isotopes — different forms of elements found everywhere in the environment — and how they’re used in forensics to solve murders, detect fraud and perform other applications.
Chesson, president of Salt Lake City-based IsoForensics, Inc., presents “CSI Chemistry: ‘I Know Where You’ve Been and What You Ate’” at 7 p.m. in the Emert Auditorium (Room 130) of the Eccles Science Learning Center. Her talk is free and open to all ages.
Hands-on learning activities, exhibits and refreshments follow Chesson’s talk.
Hosted by USU’s College of Science, Chesson’s presentation is part of Science Unwrapped’s spring 2014 “Science Superpowers” series.
For more information, call 435-797-3517, visit www.usu.edu/science/unwrapped or view the ‘Science Unwrapped at USU’ on Facebook.