Professor Shari L. Forbes (born 15 October 1977) is an Australian and Canadian forensic scientist and researcher. She is a thanatology expert on the decomposition of human bodies. She created a body farm in Australia and between 2019 and 2022 established a similar facility in Canada, connected to the Forensic Science department at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR).[1] As of January 2023, she is a full professor in chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Windsor, and is hoping to start the first body farm in Ontario in the coming years.[2]
Shari L. Forbes | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 October 1977 Brewarrina |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Professor of thanatology |
| Known for | expertise in human body decay |
Life
editForbes was born in 1977 in Brewarrina.[3] Her family were graziers where the death of animals was routine. She completed her schooling at Hornsby Girls' High School in Sydney.[4] Her first degree was in Applied Chemistry and Forensic Science and she went on to a science based doctorate.[5]
In 2005 she was involved in developing a forensic science course at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. In 2011 she left to take up work in Australia.[6] She became a Professor at the University of Sydney.[5]
Up to 2018 she was involved in creating the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research (Australia's first body farm) where she was involved with research into decomposing bodies.[6][7]
In 2018 she became the Canada 150 research chair in thanatology at UQTR. Her seven-year research programme was funded at $350,000 per year and the university met the cost ($350,000) of Canada's first body farm.[6] The nearest similar facility was one at Northern Michigan University, but Forbes was specifically targeting a forest based site.[6] The new body farm is at Bécancour and its correct name is the "Secure Site for Research in Thanatology" (or REST[ES], in French).[8][9] As of 2023 she left UQTR and is now a full professor in chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Windsor.
Forbes is a fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales.[10]
References
edit- ^ "La décomposition humaine se poursuit même en hiver, découvre l'UQTR". Journal de Montreal (in French). Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ "Windsor Gains Expertise". University of Windsor. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ Congress, The Library of. "LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies (Library of Congress)". id.loc.gov. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- ^ Power, Julie (10 April 2015). "Lunch with new body farm queen, Shari Forbes". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- ^ a b "Shari Forbes". University of Technology Sydney. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d "She's in charge of Canada's first 'body farm' and yes, she knows that's creepy". The Hamilton Spectator. 29 November 2019. ISSN 1189-9417. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- ^ Verheggen, François; Perrault, Katelynn A.; Megido, Rudy Caparros; Dubois, Lena M.; Francis, Frédéric; Haubruge, Eric; Forbes, Shari L.; Focant, Jean-François; Stefanuto, Pierre-Hugues (1 July 2017). "The Odor of Death: An Overview of Current Knowledge on Characterization and Applications". BioScience. 67 (7): 600–613. doi:10.1093/biosci/bix046. ISSN 0006-3568.
- ^ "Canada's 1st forensics body farm is coming this summer". CBC Radio. 22 May 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- ^ "Qu'est-ce que REST[ES]?". Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- ^ "Fellows - The Royal Society of NSW". www.royalsoc.org.au. Retrieved 19 April 2020.