Abertay forensic student wins university top prize

A forensic science student from Abertay University has won a £4,000 prize.

The Forensic and Police Services Association (FAPSA) education development competition asked students to submit any dissertation based on fingerprint analysis.

Abertay student Lauren Friel, whose dissertation investigated the efficacy of superglue fuming in a vacuum chamber as a means of recovering fingerprints, was awarded the top prize.

Lauren’s success means Abertay will soon have a new CA60-R Cyanoacrylate (superglue) fingerprint development cabinet, which will make it possible for students to carry out new types of research and to learn new techniques.

As well as the new equipment, Lauren has won a £100 cash prize and a year-long membership of Fapsa.

Allan Scott, the chairman and director of Fapsa, said: “We launched this competition to try and encourage more collaboration between industry and universities, and to encourage research and development across academia and commerce.”