A second course on infrared spectroscopy will be of general interest to chemists and other scientists who work in the fields of forensic science of problem solving, and especially forensic science. The format of the course largely follows that of the first week. This course will consist of three sets of lectures. Initially, a summary of the assignment of bands in the infrared spectra of simple molecules is given; this is followed by a discussion of the infrared and Raman spectra of polymers. Throughout the course, a general background on how to measure spectra of the highest quality is given.
In the second lecture set, the staff will discuss the theory, instrumentation and optimization of FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy, sampling techniques, computer methods (including the retrieval of data), quantitative techniques, and integration of IR data with other spectroscopic information. The third set of lectures will center on the application of infrared and Raman spectroscopy to forensic analysis. The application of infrared and Raman spectroscopy to a series of problems in forensic chemistry will then be discussed. While of direct relevance to scientists working in forensic laboratories, these examples will also help any scientist who works in a problem-solving laboratory understand how to use vibrational spectroscopy to obtain answers to real-world problems. We are happy to announce that Dr. Edward Suzuki of the Washington State Patrol, Crime Laboratory Division, will again be part of the lecture team and will present three lectures on the practical aspects of forensic science.
In the first two evening workshops, participants will have the opportunity to interpret the infrared spectra of some common, and some not so common, compounds. The third workshop will present problems in spectral searching and retrieval. Although spectral searching is a common tool in laboratories, these exercises will illustrate how confusing search results can be. Methodology will be provided to resolve these difficult problems.
Click here to view a printer-friendly daily schedule of this program.
Last Updated: September 06, 2011