Dr Catherine Tennick

Cat's current role involves laboratory, fieldwork and classroom-based teaching on a range of subjects. These include death and decomposition, forensic trace evidence, forensic casework examination and the analysis and interpretation of forensic evidence. She also provides supervision for research Master's and PhD students in areas including forensic taphonomy, trauma analysis and forensic trace evidence. Cat has been recognised as an Engagement Catalyst and funded for work with young people at the Lancashire Science Festival as a presenter of interactive talks, workshops and show floor activities on Forensic Science.

Cat has a passion for forensic science education. It was sparked by being a UCLan undergraduate, completing her degree in Forensic Science here in 2003. She then began her PhD part-time, examining knife marks on bone to establish reliable weapon identification characteristics. During her PhD she undertook some consultancy work on a number of forensic cases, alongside teaching practical forensic skills to undergraduate students. On completion of her degree in 2012, Cat began lecturing and continued to teach in a range of areas including forensic anthropology, crime scene science, criminalistics and forensic practice.

She continues her research in trauma analysis and has worked alongside forensic service providers with students on a range of research projects in addition to recruiting and supporting students in forensic work experience placements. Cat presents her work at conferences locally and internationally.

Cat has extensive experience of outreach and public engagement experience; she began working with schools and colleges in 2005, and has provided workshops, show floor activities and lectures for the public at the Lancashire Science Festival since its inception in 2012.

Since then, Cat has provided a range of interactive workshops and lectures both in-person and online at festivals such as Bluedot and Festival of Tomorrow. Cat decided to become more "humerus" and has added comic flavour to her research and her subject, presenting stand-up comedy at Bright Club, Royal Society of Chemistry and Manchester Science Festival comedy events.

In addition to her live engagement work, Cat has presented forensic material for the BBC in a range of formats; for radio in live broadcasts, for TV in BBC One's Crimewatch Live demonstrating forensic techniques from our scene houses, and discussing forensic evidence in the June Anne Devaney murder for a BBC Radio documentary.