UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
RESEARCH SEMINARS
Abstract form
Title: Forensic Science and its application to the characterisation of Ecstasy
using ICP/MS
Presenter: Godwin Sammut
Contact address: Forensic Laboratory Services, Malta National Laboratory, UB14 San
Gwann
Industrial Estate, San Gwann
;
Tel: 21 496016/Direct: 22798119
Fax: 21 496048
Email: godwin.sammut@mnl.com.mt
Presentation date: 8th May 2006
Abstract
Forensic Science is the application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are
enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system. It is multi-disciplinary ranging
from document analysis to chemical and biological analysis. The presentation will first take
a tour of a typical forensic science laboratory focussing on a case study example from the
following disciplines: chemistry, biology and firearms.
The second half of the presentation will highlight one of the many advancements in Forensic
science.
When required, the ability to link a sample to its origin remains the utmost
challenge in any typical investigation. As a result, a forensic scientist must be aware of the
ever-growing progress made through on-going collaborated international projects. One of
the projects was set up in order to find important similarities and/or differences between
various samples found throughout the European countries. The samples studied varied and
included amongst others bullets, glass, paint and drugs. The characterisation of ecstasy
using ICP/MS will be used as an example to demonstrate the importance of such projects.