6B084E - Environmental, Wildlife and Molecular Forensics 01 Sep 2027 - 31 Aug 2033 | Version 0

Associated Module Information

Module Code: 6B084E
Module Title: Environmental, Wildlife and Molecular Forensics
Faculty: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Faculty Group: Applied Science
Faculty Sub Group: Applied Science
Module Leader: Ella Mason-Buck
Module Team: Rebecca Lakin, Cerith Jones, Niamh Breslin
First Intended Intake: SEP 2027 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 30 Credit Level: 6
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100346 - biology
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 0
Valid From 01 Sep 2027
Valid To 31 Aug 2033

Module Aims

The main aims of the module are:

·         To develop understanding of how biological, ecological, and molecular evidence is used in environmental and wildlife forensic investigations, and how this evidence is interpreted in different forensic contexts.

·         To critically apply a range of advanced forensic biology techniques to real-world environmental and wildlife crime scenarios.

·         To develop the ability to integrate and communicate complex forensic evidence from multiple sources, while evaluating evidential reliability, uncertainty, and legal admissibility.

Content Summary

This module explores the application of biological science to the investigation of environmental crime and wildlife-related offences. It introduces students to a broad range of contemporary forensic techniques used to detect, identify, and interpret biological and ecological evidence in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Topics include forensic genetics and genomics, environmental DNA (eDNA), microbial and metagenomic analysis, palynology, soil and geospatial forensics, entomology, taphonomy, ecotoxicology, and emerging multi-omics approaches. Students will also examine wildlife trafficking, conservation genetics, and the legal and evidential frameworks that underpin environmental forensic investigations.

The purpose of the module is to develop students’ ability to critically evaluate and apply biological data in forensic contexts, with a strong emphasis on interpretation, evidential reliability, and real-world case analysis. Practical activities and case-based learning will support the development of analytical, spatial, and molecular skills relevant to modern forensic science. This module contributes to the programme by integrating molecular biology, ecology, and forensic investigation, preparing students for careers in forensic science, environmental consultancy, conservation, and related analytical fields.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Practical classes and workshops 56
Guided Learning - Independent (Directed Reading, VLE Tasks) 10.5
Summative Assessment and Preparation 60
Formative Assessment 12
Independent Learning (Wider reading, Research, Reflection, Consollidation) 161.5
Total Hours Selected 300

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critically evaluate key biological and molecular techniques used in environmental and wildlife forensic investigations, including their applications and limitations.
LO2 Interpret and integrate different types of environmental and biological evidence to support clear, justified conclusions in forensic case scenarios.

Module Requisites

Code Title Requisite Type
MOD014230 Forensic Genetics pre-requisite
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Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Practical Assessment Practical Coursework (Onsite) 1 The practical coursework assessment (50%) evaluates students’ ability to apply environmental forensic techniques and interpret biological and ecological evidence in a structured case scenario. The practical component assesses technical understanding, data handling, and analytical skills, while the knowledge element ensures students can critically evaluate evidential value, uncertainty, and limitations. This directly supports the module learning outcomes by integrating practical competence with interpretative and evaluative reasoning. 180 N/A 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment  Web page/wiki  The Web page/wiki (50%) adopts a scaffolded, challenge-based approach in which students progressively develop and curate content linked to key themes such as eDNA, microbial forensics, geospatial analysis, wildlife crime, and environmental genomics. This requires students to critically evaluate scientific sources, interpret complex biological and environmental datasets, and communicate forensic findings in a structured and accessible format. 0 3000 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Practical Coursework (Onsite) 1 ✔ ✔
Web page/wiki  ✔ ✔

Reading List

Week 1 – Introduction to Environmental & Wildlife Forensics

  1. Horswell, J. (2016). The Handbook of Environmental Forensics. CRC Press.

  2. Sutton, M. & Cresswell, R. (2020). Forensic Ecology: A Review of Environmental Crime Investigation. Environmental Forensics Journal.

  3. UNODC (2022). World Wildlife Crime Report. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Week 2 – Forensic Genetics, Genomics & Species Identification

  1. Ogden, R. (2017). Forensic Science and Wildlife Crime. Cambridge University Press.

  2. Hebert, P.D.N. et al. (2003). Biological identifications through DNA barcodes. Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

  3. Taberlet, P. et al. (2018). Environmental DNA: Forensic applications. Molecular Ecology.

Week 3 – Environmental DNA (eDNA) & Aquatic Forensics

  1. Thomsen, P.F. & Willerslev, E. (2015). Environmental DNA – an emerging tool in conservation. Biological Conservation.

  2. Rees, H.C. et al. (2014). eDNA sampling and analysis methods. Methods in Ecology and Evolution.

  3. Turner, C.R. et al. (2015). Particle size distribution of eDNA in aquatic systems. PeerJ.

Week 4 – Microbial Forensics & Metagenomics

  1. Carter, D.O. et al. (2007). Microbial signatures of decomposition. Journal of Forensic Sciences.

  2. Budowle, B. et al. (2005). Microbial forensics: progress and challenges. Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

  3. Knight, R. et al. (2018). Best practices for microbiome analysis. Nature Reviews Microbiology.

Week 5 – Palynology, Botanical Evidence & Timber Forensics

  1. Bryant, V.M. & Jones, G.D. (2006). Forensic palynology: principles and applications. Micropaleontology.

  2. Mildenhall, D.C. (2006). Pollen in forensic science. Grana.

  3. Lowe, A.J. et al. (2016). DNA barcoding of timber species. Molecular Ecology Resources.

Week 6 – Soil, Sediment & Geospatial Analysis

  1. Ritz, K. et al. (2009). Soil forensic science: principles and applications. Soil Biology & Biochemistry.

  2. Fitzpatrick, R.W. (2013). Soil forensics: geological tools in criminal investigations. Geoderma.

  3. Longley, P.A. et al. (2015). Geographic Information Systems and Science. Wiley.

Week 7 – Wildlife Forensics & Illegal Wildlife Trade

  1. Ewart, K.M. et al. (2019). Wildlife forensic genetics. Forensic Science International.

  2. Linacre, A. & Tobe, S.S. (2013). Wildlife Forensic Investigation: Principles and Practice. Wiley-Blackwell.

  3. CITES (2023). CITES Appendices and Trade Regulations. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

Week 8 – Forensic Entomology

  1. Amendt, J. et al. (2010). Forensic entomology: insects in legal investigations. Annual Review of Entomology.

  2. Byrd, J.H. & Castner, J.L. (2010). Forensic Entomology: The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations. CRC Press.

  3. Tomberlin, J.K. et al. (2011). Entomotoxicology: insects as toxicological evidence. Forensic Science International.

Week 9 – Forensic Pathology, Taphonomy & Decomposition Ecology

  1. Haglund, W.D. & Sorg, M.H. (2002). Forensic Taphonomy. CRC Press.

  2. Carter, D.O. et al. (2007). Forensic soil and decomposition ecology. Journal of Forensic Sciences.

  3. Sorg, M.H. et al. (2010). Aquatic decomposition and forensic implications. Journal of Forensic Research.

Week 10 – Assessment Week (Practical Integration)

  1. Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (2024). Code of Practice and Conduct. CSFS.

  2. ISO/IEC 17025:2017. General requirements for testing and calibration laboratories.

Week 11 – Ecotoxicology & Pollution Forensics

  1. Newman, M.C. (2015). Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology. CRC Press.

  2. Forbes, T.P. et al. (2014). Oil spill forensic fingerprinting. Environmental Forensics.

  3. Peakall, D.B. (1994). The role of biomarkers in environmental contamination. Ecotoxicology.

Week 12 – Emerging Omics & Bioinformatics in Environmental Forensics

  1. Zhang, X. et al. (2019). Multi-omics in environmental science. Nature Reviews Genetics.

  2. Knight, R. et al. (2018). Microbiome and computational biology advances. Nature Reviews Microbiology.

  3. Goodwin, S. et al. (2016). Genomic sequencing technologies in forensic science. Nature Reviews Genetics.