This course provides basic environmental forensics knowledge by emphasising the appropriate methods suitable to solve critical environmental pollution questions. These methods include chemical and DNA fingerprinting techniques. Chemical fingerprinting techniques to be discussed are mass spectrometry, trace metal analysis, and stable isotope analysis of light elements. The DNA fingerprinting technique covers DNA extraction methods and detecting toxin-encoding genes. In addition, the students will be taught multivariate statistical methods to recognise data patterns, thus obtaining the best information and interpretation from the analyses carried out. At the end of this course, students should know how to organise information and data from various sources to tackle the challenges in environmental forensics using critical and logical thinking.
