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Pointing a finger(print)

This event is part of our series of lightning lectures at the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2019. Perfect for getting a taste of science, why not catch one (or more) of these electrifying 15 minute talks?
Fingerprints left at a crime scene are critical in uncovering the identity of a perpetrator but how do we expose these invisible clues? And what happens if this crucial evidence is washed away, destroyed or otherwise damaged?
Enter Dr Paul Kelly who, together with a team of chemists, has developed a pioneering new technique that will assist forensic investigators in answering the 'who, what and when' questions that can be crucial in solving a crime.
From metal surfaces that have been scrubbed clean to remnants of prints on an ammunition case that have been removed through gun fire, Dr Kelly will reveal how chemistry can be the real hero at some of the most challenging crime scenes.
Running times
This event will run at 1.30pm and 5.15pm and last approximately 15 minutes.
Talk - admittance for our talks is first-come, first-served. Please ensure you arrive early for talks as we can get busy at the weekends and you may need to queue to get into the building.
Attending the event
- Free to attend
- No registration required
- Limited spaces, admittance based on venue capacity
- Seats allocated on a first-come, first-served basis
- Doors open 5 minutes before start of event
- Suitable for ages 14+
- Travel and accessibility information - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements
- Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café
For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org.