Our community engagement

Cold Case Review at Murdoch

Murdoch University has assembled the most talented Forensic Science and Criminology students to review, research, and analyse data that could offer new leads in unsolved homicide and missing persons cases. The initiative, called the Cold Case Review at Murdoch (CCR@Murdoch), is led by Senior Lecturer in Forensic Science, Brendan Chapman, and Associate Professor in Criminology, Dr David Keatley. Students review vast amounts of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and evidence related to specific cases and develop new methods and potential areas of further investigation. Read more about it  here.

Citizen science

 
Citizen science is an exciting movement that empowers everyday people to contribute to real scientific projects. By participating in citizen science projects, people can make meaningful contributions to important scientific discoveries while also developing a deeper understanding of science and the natural world. This collaborative effort between scientists and the public has the potential to revolutionise the way we do science, promote scientific literacy, and connect people with their communities and the world around them.  

Several citizen science projects are ongoing at Murdoch University led by MMFS academics, such as training the next generation of tick experts.  

Ticks are fascinating little critters and are found throughout Australia. To learn more about the species and distribution (which climate change is driving), Charlotte’s CrypTick Lab actively recruits the general public to collect, document (via iNaturalist) and send ticks to her lab to identify and investigate the microbes found within. Their lab houses over 20,000 specimens in their tick collection.   

 

Science communication  

Science communication (sci-comm) plays a vital role in bridging the gap between scientific research and the general public. Sci-comm is the ultimate superhero that saves the day by bringing science out of the labs and into the world. It's a powerful tool that breaks down the barriers between scientific discoveries and the general public, making science accessible and exciting for everyone.  
 
Through sci-comm, scientists can share their ground-breaking research with the world, inspiring awe and wonder in people's minds. It can also help people to understand the impact of science on their daily lives and empower them to make informed decisions about important issues like healthcare, climate change, criminal investigation and technology.  
 
Murdoch MMFS academics are making a real impact on science communication by sharing their research with the general public through a variety of engaging platforms. Whether it's through stage presentations at events like school workshops, National Science Week, TEDx, and FameLab, or through radio and audio/video podcasts on networks like ABC Radio, SBS, and WIRED, they're dedicated to making science accessible and exciting for people of all ages and backgrounds.  
 
But it doesn't stop there; MMFS academics are also investing their time in mentoring the next generation of science communicators, training them for competitions like FameLab Academy, FameLab, and 3MT. This commitment to science communication is inspiring and will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the future of science and scientific literacy.