From Human Migration to Solving Crimes: The World of Forensic Isotopes

Chemistry, and isotope systems in particular, have wide-ranging applications that include unraveling the history of human migration, human diet, the role of trading and coins in antiquity, nuclear forensics, combating counterfeit pharmaceuticals, food fraud, illegal logging and animal trade, to missing person investigations. Even the age of Jupiter can be estimated based on isotopes! This course will review basic concepts in isotopes (what are isotopes and how are they measured?) with emphasis on practical applications and how isotopes are used to address questions relevant to ancient and modern societies. This course consists of lectures, readings and discussion of recent articles on forensic isotope applications, and a final project (short paper and presentation) selected by the student.