Amoret Whitaker is a forensic entomologist in the UK.[1]
Amoret Whitaker | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | Reading University |
| Occupation | Forensic entomologist |
| Employer | University of Winchester |
| Website | www |
Education
editShe studied a BSc in zoology at Reading University,[2] a masters of taxonomy and biodiversity at Imperial College London and the Natural History Museum, London and a PhD in forensic entomology at King's College London.[1]
Career and research
editAmoret's early research was into fleas, which are her favourite insects.[3] She wrote the Fleas (Siphonaptera) volume of the Handbooks for the identification of British Insects,[4] published in 2007 by the Royal Entomological Society[5] and is currently writing Flea for the Reaktion Books Animal series.[1]
She moved in forensic entomology and regularly carries out casework with police forces in the UK[6] using insect evidence to determine the post mortem interval of a body. The first case she worked on was the Murder of Shafilea Ahmed.[7]
Her research looks at the development and behaviour of blowflies[8] and beetles under different environmental conditions, she is based at the Natural History Museum in London where she is a Scientific Associate, at the body farm in Tennessee[9] and at the University of Winchester where she is a senior lecturer in forensic studies.[1]
Media and public appearances
editIn 2013 she was interviewed by Jim Al-Khalili on the BBC's The Life Scientific programme,[10] in 2017 she appeared on The Infinite Monkey Cage's episode about insects.[11] She was the Verrall Lecturer for the Royal Entomological Society in 2018, speaking on Fabulous Fleas.[12][13] She appeared as part of a team for Reading University in the Christmas University Challenge 2020
References
edit- ^ a b c d Whitaker, Amoret. "Academic Homepage". www.winchester.ac.uk. University of Winchester. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "The real-life CSI scientist". www.mirror.co.uk. 19 January 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "Twelve reasons why insects rule". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "Amoret Whitaker, forensic entomologist". valentinaproject.com. The Valentina Project. 23 February 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "RES Handbooks for the identification of British Insects. Volume 1 part 16 (2nd edition)". royensoc.co.uk. The Royal Entomological Society. 23 February 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Six of the most extreme jobs in science". www.sciencefocus.com. BBC Science Focus Magazine. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "How a love of whodunit mysteries has paved the way for forensic entomology". www.wired.co.uk. Wired. 19 December 2013. Archived from the original on 13 August 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ Segalov, Michael (12 December 2021). "Body of evidence: meet the experts working in crime scene forensics". the Guardian. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ "Meet the superheroes of science - science-in-society - 22 October 2009". www.newscientist.com. New Scientist. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
- ^ "The Life Scientific: Amoret Whitaker". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "Series 16, Episode 6, Will insects inherit the earth?". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "2018 Verrall Lecture: Fabulous Fleas by Amoret Whitaker" (PDF). www.royensoc.co.uk. Royal Entomological Society. Retrieved 13 August 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "2018 Verrall Lecturer". royensoc.co.uk. Royal Entomological Society. Retrieved 21 October 2020.