KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Story courtesy of WVLT) — The University of Tennessee opened a new Forensic Anthropology Center designed to triple the number of missing persons cases experts can handle each year.
The lab will handle about 90 cases annually, up from around 30, according to center director Giovanna Bedoli.
“It is very exciting. I don’t think words can really express it,” Bedoli said. “Just seeing the space. But not only that, it is hearing the excitement of everybody else when they walk in and they say, this looks amazing.”
Forensic anthropologists work with skeletal remains when no identifiable markers are present. The center assists law enforcement with identifications by estimating sex and age from skeletal remains.
The lab uses 3D measurement tools and specialized software to analyze remains. Experts digitize landmarks on skulls to create measurements that help estimate aspects of a biological profile, including sex, age at death, population affinity and stature.
UT said it aims to become the first accredited forensic anthropology lab within a university system. Accreditation involves a third party reviewing procedures and space to verify that the center follows international standards in forensic analysis.
Other forensic anthropology labs exist in the country, many within academic units, but none have achieved accreditation within a university system.
The center also trains graduate students who work on real cases within the accredited lab environment.
“It’s been a long time coming. They’ve been making plans for about ten years,” said Caroline Zanachko, a Ph.D. student graduating next month. “To finally see this building open and see us reach that goal, it’s really exciting, not just for me, but for future students as well.”
Zanachko will start a research post-doctoral position at Purdue University studying human biology and integrating biological markers to improve forensic methods.
The center’s increased capacity allows it to assist more communities and law enforcement agencies. Not all states have a forensic anthropologist, and the center can provide services to those states.
“It increases the capacity to be able to reach out to those communities and say, ‘we can help identify your loved one,’” Bedoli said. “We can use our best people, our best methods and ensure that you have the answers that you’re looking for.”
The center is already consulting with agencies in surrounding areas and medical examiners. Officials expect demand to grow as the facility moves through the accreditation process.
University of Tennessee opened a new Forensic Anthropology Center (wvlt)
