Media Release

For Immediate Release

October 5, 2006

Dead in the water: Nearly 100 people attend lecture on forensic oceanography

Dr. Michael Fennessy spoke today about forensic oceanography and how this area of study will greatly assist forensic scientists and anthropologists and law enforcement agencies alike here in Canada.

Droves of people — students,

faculty, staff and the general public — poured into the Scotiabank Conference Theatre, Sobey Building, this afternoon to attend Dr. Michael Fennessy’s lecture.

His talk today underscored the importance of forensic oceanography and how this area of study will greatly assist forensic scientists and anthropologists and law enforcement agencies alike here in Canada.

Dr. Tanya Peckmann, who is a forensic anthropologist at Saint Mary’s and one of the key organizers of the lecture, provided the opening remarks before Dr. Fennessy's talk, which was truly engaging.

Dr. Peckmann thanked the sponsors for today’s lecture, which included: the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner’s Office, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Halifax Regional Police Department, and Saint Mary’s (Dean of Science Office, Dean of Arts Office, Anthropology Department, the Vice-President of Academic and Research), and the Saint Mary's Alumni Association.

Dr. Fennessy is a senior consultant with Coastal Research in Plymouth, United Kingdom (UK). He was in Halifax today as part of a Winston Churchill Traveling Fellowship.

His organization specializes in forensic investigation involving incidents where persons have gone missing in coastal waters or rivers, and many more where a body has been found in the sea, estuary or a river.

He indicated during his lecture today that for his research outlet, reconstruction of incidents is usually possible in all such cases provided that one end point is known: either where and when the person went missing, or where and when a body was found.

A reception was held following his lecture.

Saint Mary's University is known for its community outreach projects, both in Canada and around the world. Saint Mary's, founded in 1802, is home to one of Canada's leading business schools, a Science Faculty widely known for its cutting-edge research, a comprehensive and innovative Arts Faculty and a vibrant Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.

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For More Information:

Paul Fitzgerald
Public Affairs Officer
Saint Mary's University, Public Affairs
(902) 420.5514
E-mail: paul.fitzgerald@smu.ca
www.smu.ca