Scott Fairgrieve
Biography
Dr. Fairgrieve was originally trained in Physical Anthropology at Erindale College, University of Toronto (Hons. B.Sc.) from 1982 to 1986, under the supervision of Dr. Jerry Melbye of the Department of Anthropology. Upon graduation, Dr. Fairgrieve pursued his M.Phil. in Biological Anthropology at the University of Cambridge, England. His thesis, entitled "The Pasamayo Crania of the Hutchinson Collection, a Pathological and Nutritional Assessment" was supervised by Professor James Garlick of the Department of Physical Anthropology. Subsequently, Dr. Fairgrieve returned to pursue his Ph.D., once again, under the supervision of Dr. Jerry Melbye. Dr. Fairgrieve's doctoral thesis is entitled, "Amino Acid Residue Analysis of Type I Collagen in Human Hard Tissue: An Assessment of Cribra Orbitalia in An Ancient Skeletal Sample from Tomb 31, Site 31/435-D5-2, Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt." Prior to defending his Ph.D., Dr. Fairgrieve, was trained in Forensic Anthropology at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, in Washington, D.C., under the direction Dr. Douglas H. Ubelaker and instructed by Dr. William Bass from the Department of Anthropology at the University of Tennessee. In 1991 Dr. Fairgrieve secured a cross-appointment between the Anthropology Program and the Department of Biology at Laurentian University. Since obtaining his Ph.D. in 1993, Dr. Fairgrieve has steadily conducted research in human skeletal biology and forensic anthropology with numerous publications and research projects. In 1998, he founded the "Forensic Biology Option" within the Honours B.Sc. in Biology at Laurentian University. In 2004, Dr. Fairgrieve became the founding Chair of the Department of Forensic Science at Laurentian University. As Director of the Forensic Osteology Laboratory, he is the Forensic Anthropology consultant to the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, working with the Northeast Regional Forensic Pathology Unit (Directed by Dr. Martin Queen) in Sudbury, Ontario. Dr. Fairgrieve is published in the areas of forensic anthropology, microscopy of bone, and the analysis of intentionally burned human remains. He has testified as an expert witness in Canada and the United States.
Education
- Hons. B.Sc., University of Toronto
- M.Phil., University of Cambridge
- Ph.D., University of Toronto
Academic Appointments
Vice-Dean, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Architecture
On The Web
Research
Dr. Fairgrieve's research is concentrated on the effects of fire on the human skeleton in forensic contexts. Particularly, Dr. Fairgrieve is interested in the effects fire has on our ability to detect and interpret cut marks, stab wounds, and other forms of trauma on skeletal tissues. Dr. Fairgrieve's research has also included collaborative research in the areas of forensic botany, and bloodstain pattern interpretation.
Awards
- Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Science
Teaching
The following is a list of courses taught by me at Laurentian University since joining the faculty in 1991 (Please note: the list of courses here represents my time in Anthropology, Biology from 1991 to 2004. From 2004 to the present I have been with the Department of Forensic Science):
ANTR 1005 EA Introduction to Anthropology: The Study of Humankind
ANTR 2015 EA Physical/Biological Anthropology
ANTR 2105 EA Forensic Anthropology*
ANTR 3036 EA Human Skeletal Biology*
ANTR 3037 EA Human Origins*
ANTR 3095 EA Archaeological Field Procedures (co-taught with Dr. P. Julig)
ANTR 4095 EA Research Essay (Fourth-year thesis project)
ANTR 4105 EA Forensic Osteology*
ANTR 4106 EL Forensic Analysis of the Human Skeleton*
ANTR 4905 EA Independent Studies (Supervised independent student research)
BIOL 1700 EL Structure and Function of the Human Body
BIOL 2105 EL Human Anatomy and Physiology*
BIOL 2107 EL Human Anatomy
BIOL 2205 EL Forensic Biology*
BIOL 4205 EL Forensic Biology Internship*
FORS 1016 EL Fundamentals of Forensic Science I* (In development as a correspondence course Ready Sept. 2017)
FORS 2106 EL Introduction to Forensic Biology*
FORS 2107 EL Introduction to Forensic Science*
FORS 3016 EL Seminars in Forensic Biology*
FORS 3036 EL Forensic Anatomy of the Human Skeleton*
FORS 4017 EL Investigative Techniques for Forensic Scientists
FORS 4106 EL Forensic Analysis of the Human Skeleton*
FORS 4095 EL Thesis*
FOID 3006 EL Concepts in Human Decomposition (Envision)* (Part of the Bachelor of Forensic Identification Degree for
Police Forensic Officers)
Publications
- Exsanguinated Blood Volume Estimation Using Fractal Analysis of Digital Images
- Accreditation of Canadian Undergraduate Forensic Degrees: FEPAC in the Canadian Context
- Differential of Traumatic and Heat-Induced Dental Tissue Fractures via SEM Analysis
- SEM and Stereomicroscopic Analysis of Cut Marks in Fresh and Burned Bone
- Forensic Cremation Recovery and Analysis
- A Test of the Demirjian method of dental ageing using a mixed population sample from Northern Ontario
- SEM Analysis of Incinerated Teeth as an Aid to Positive Identification
- A New Digital Method for the Objective Comparison of Frontal Sinuses for Identification
- Microscopic Indicators of Axe and Hatchet Trauma in Fleshed and Defleshed Mammalian Long Bones
- Macroscopic Analysis of Axe and Hatchet Trauma in Fleshed and Defleshed Mammalian Long Bones
Establishing Correspondence in Wood: The Challenge and Some Solutions?
Interpreting the Effects of Burning on Pre‐incineration Saw Marks in Bone