Marie Allen radiates a genuine joy when she talks about her research subject and the importance of passing on her knowledge in the Master's Programme in Forensic Science.

“It is a great honour and pleasure to receive an award,' smiles Marie Allen, 'and I think that teaching awards can help to raise the status of teaching within the Academy.”

Real world education

The interdisciplinary Master's programme is adapted to the reality of the legal system and is also strongly research-oriented. Early on in the programme, there are collaborations with professionals from various legal bodies in society.

”The students' experiences, cultural backgrounds and undergraduate education differ, which creates a rewarding learning environment and we learn from each other in the discussions. It is also fun to be able to use our own and others' current research in teaching. The course content follows current technological developments, with modern and sensitive methods for forensic analysis”

Future career opportunities

The police’s line of questioning is often very open when dna analysis is performed. For example, can some blood traces be linked to a specific person or to several other crimes?

”During the course, students will work with questions taken from real cases and fictionally assist the police in identifying offenders with dna analysis. They will read the police interview protocol, the coroner's autopsy protocol and the court's verdict in cooperation with the Department of Law.

There are many jobs in forensic science, for example in police forensic laboratories and other units of the justice system.

”Meeting past students in their work in the justice system or when they come back to the programme and lecture to new students - that's both fun and a driving force for me," says Marie Allen.”

What is a good educator like?

“As an educator, it's important to remember that students learn differently and have different abilities. I try to move away from the classic lecture situation and instead use more interactive and student-engaging pedagogies such as problem-based learning, new e-tools and flipped classrooms. It is easier for students to learn when they find the content interesting, while at the same time they are involved and the teaching methods are varied,” concludes Marie Allen.