A day in the life of a forensic scientist: Tom Geddes
Tom Geddes has spent the past four years working for LGC Forensics, Culham, as a forensic scientist. He talks to Kathryn Roberts about his typical day
LGC Forensics, part of the 'analytical giant' LGC, provides forensic services to police forces and various other law enforcement agencies as well as to a few private clients. Tom is one of 20 scientists in the marks and traces team at Culham, where he specialises in footwear marks and glass evidence.
Experience counts
Four years ago Tom, like all new recruits to the division, spent six months being trained in the basics of forensic work. Strict procedures have to be learnt, including cleaning and handling equipment, moving between different departments, and wearing the right clothes to avoid cross contamination. The recruits are also trained to present their findings under the scrutiny of the legal profession. For much of this time Tom worked on other people's research projects within the different teams, familiarising himself with what everyone did. He told InfoChem, 'It is vital that we are aware of what everyone else is doing at all times so that we never compromise someone else's evidence while doing our own work'.
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