Field Wildlife Forensic Science

UCO Field Course-Shoals Marine Laboratory , ,

FRSC 4943 CRN# 31350

Course Syllabus – Summer Session 2019 June 03 – 10, 2019

Instructor: Office Hours: Dr. Wayne D. Lord T /Th: 12:30-3:00 PM, and also by Office: Forensic Science Institute, Room 110E appointment. I am generally in my Office Telephone: 405-974-6910 office (FSI 110E) if not in the Biology Lab (HOH 257/261). Email: [email protected]

Additional Participating Faculty: Dr. Vicki Jackson ([email protected]) Jenny Johnson, FSI Program Manager ([email protected])

Course Description:

Field Wildlife Forensic Science (FWFS) provides a unique introduction to the marine forensic sciences and the special rules and practices governing the utilization of marine biology and environmental science within the justice system. Field Wildlife Forensic Science is to be offered at the Shoals Marine Laboratory (SML), Isles of Shoals, and Maine. The SML is a summer marine field station operated jointly by and the University of . In addition to UCO tuition, additional per-student travel-related expenses (offsetting SML field station room, board, whale watch excursion, and laboratory/necropsy facilities use), are applicable. Students are required to arrange, provide, and fund their own travel expenses to/from the SML pier in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Course Dates and Locations:

June 03-10, 2019 Shoals Marine Laboratory (SML), Isles of Shoals, Maine.

Field Wildlife Forensic Science sessions will be held daily at the SML facilities (located on Appledore Island, Isles of Shoals, Maine). Mandatory pre-course class sessions will be held in room 107 of the UCO, W. Roger Webb Forensic Science Institute (FSI) during May 2019. A mandatory post-course session will be held in room 107 of the FSI in July 2019. Specific dates and times of pre- and post-course sessions will be provided by the course instructors.

About the Course:

Forensic Science represents the unique merging of scientific insight and the law. With increasing frequency, scientists from an ever-broadening spectrum of disciplines are being called upon to apply their knowledge, guidance and expertise to questions and issues arising within the criminal justice system and civil litigation arena.

Wildlife forensic science is an emerging specialty which focuses forensic techniques and analyses on wildlife scenarios. Poaching; malicious wounding; endangered species, marine mammal and migratory bird act violations; environmental pollution; and the illegal importation and/or sale of protected plants and animals are but a few of the types of incidents potentially requiring the application of forensic science to wildlife cases.

While a major difference between human forensic science and wildlife forensic science lies in the diversity of potential wildlife victims, the collection, identification and subsequent analysis of wildlife evidence can also be more problematic. Central to the sound application of science to wildlife exploitation issues is an understanding of the unique procedures and requirements inherent in our legal system.

 The aim of this course is to provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the marine wildlife forensic science domain and the special rules and practices governing the utilization of science within the United States justice system.

 This course is a UCO Field Course conducted at the Shoals Marine Laboratory, Appledore Island, Isles of Shoals, Maine.

 Additional information about Shoals Marine Laboratory (SML) programs, policies, facilities, and resources can be obtained at www.sml.cornell.edu

Supplemental Travel-Related Expenses:

Participating Students are Required to Arrange, Provide, and Fund their Own Travel To/From the Shoals Marine Laboratory Research Vessel Pier located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Supplemental Travel Expenses, Payable by Participants are Also Required.

** Participating Students are Also Required to Purchase an International Student Identification Card (ISIC), Online or Through the UCO Office of Global Affairs, for Insurance Related to Travel Activities. The 2019 UCO Field Wildlife Forensic Science (FRSC 4943) course officially begins on the SML pier in Portsmouth, NH on Monday June 03, 2019 at 9am.

The course officially terminates in the same location on Monday June 10, 2019 at 11am.

Course participants are REQUIRED to abide by all UCO and SML rules, regulations, and policies. Failure to do so will result in immediate dismissal from the course. Post-dismissal travel and related expenses, including return transportation to Oklahoma, will be borne by the student and course fees will not be refunded.

Textbooks and Required Reading Materials:

Textbook I (Required): Wildlife Forensics: Methods and Applications, Jane E. Huffman and John r. Wallace, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, UK, 2012 (ISBN-978-0-470- 66258-8).

Textbook II (Required): Animal Investigators, Laurel A. Neme, Simon and Schuster Inc., New York, NY, 2009 (ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-5056-3).

Laboratory/Field Manual (Optional): Marine Mammals Ashore: A Field Guide for Strandings, Joseph R. Geraci and Valerie L. Lounsbury, 2005 (2nd edition), National Aquarium in Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21202 (ISBN 0-9774609-8).

The Central Six and STLR: At the University of Central Oklahoma, we are guided by the mission of helping students learn by providing transformative experiences so that they may become productive, creative, ethical and engaged citizens and leaders. We strive to insure that our students contribute to the intellectual, cultural, economic, and social advancement of the communities they serve. Transformative learning is a holistic process that places students at the center of their own active and reflective learning experiences.

This course addresses three of the Central Six Tenets: discipline knowledge, global and cultural competency, and research, creative, and scholarly activities. This course will expose students to gravely important and complex international issues such as poaching and wildlife trafficking, equipping them with the skills to aid in the global efforts of conservation and enforcement. The field aspect of the course will facilitate students’ integration of discipline knowledges with experiential learning for a truly unique and transformative experience. By exposing students to the issues in wildlife forensic science it will inspire their formulation and promote their pursuit of innovative research ideas. Students will reflect on the experiences by keeping a travel/field journal and writing a short transformative learning reflection paper, which will be uploaded to their STLR record. Course Objectives and Goals:

 To provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the marine wildlife forensic science domain and the special rules and practices governing the utilization of science within the justice system.  To familiarize students with techniques and procedures for the proper recognition, documentation, collection, and preservation of physical evidence in maritime wildlife cases.  To introduce students to practical incident response, scene management, and forensic teamwork skills in marine and coastal environments.  To provide students with an introduction to forensic laboratory techniques and analyses applicable to marine wildlife cases.  To provide students with an understanding of court testimony, expert witness requirements, scientific qualifications, and ethical procedures and practices.  To provide students with a unique, transformative, STEM-oriented learning experience in a maritime field environment,

Style and Mode of Teaching:

The teaching-learning transaction is seen as a collaborative effort, with both parties sharing in the responsibility of learning.

Assuming the role of facilitators, we hope to incorporate learner experiences, practical applications, and critical thinking into the teaching-learning process. For this pedagogy to be successful, course participants, as co-learners, must develop a deep understanding of course readings, be reflective and actively participate in the learning process.

Dropbox Electronic Learning Platform and Electronic Communication:

Dropbox is utilized as the course’s electronic platform. You will be invited to join the FWFS 2019 Dropbox folder prior to the initiation of the course. It is very important that you check if before every class meeting. Wi-Fi is available and readily accessible at SML. Lecture notes, course handouts, lab assignments, and supplemental materials will all be uploaded to this folder.

Also, check your UCO email regularly both prior to and during the course for schedule updates, changes in meeting location, and other important information.

Attendance and Class Participation:

Your participation and attendance in class is very important, both to your fellow students and to me. If you are unable to attend class you are still responsible for the all the material covered in the readings, homework assignments and the other classroom learning activities. The course instructor should be informed, in writing, of the reasons for absences due to unforeseen, legitimate circumstances.

During the course you will have opportunities to participate in group activities and class discussions. We encourage and welcome opposing perspectives, nevertheless, class participants are expected to treat one another with the respect and dignity everyone is entitled to and nothing less than such democratic behavior will be acceptable.

Classes are held daily from 7:30 AM until 11:00 PM.

You are responsible for being in class on time. Do not come into the classroom or laboratory facility late, as tardiness is often disruptive.

Class laboratory and necropsy exercises are conducted in outside field locations. Students are expected to attend and participate irrespective of weather conditions,

Of necessity, course lectures and laboratory/necropsy exercises may require contact with deceased marine vertebrates and other wildlife.

Class Disruptions and Distractions:

To avoid unwarranted interruptions, students are expected to be punctual. It is expected that our learning experience will not be interrupted by cellular telephones, pocket pagers, or other electronic devices. No electronic devices are permitted in the classroom or laboratory/necropsy setting during course quizzes, examinations, and oral presentations.

No Food or Drink is Allowed in and Shoals Marine Laboratory Classrooms or Laboratory/Necropsy facilities.

Photographs of laboratory and necropsy proceedings are prohibited, unless you are advised to the contrary by course faculty.

Posting of class photographs and other course-related materials on social media sites is strictly prohibited, unless approved by course faculty and SML staff.

Academic Integrity:

Academic integrity is foremost in this course. You are responsible for doing your own work. Plagiarism and/or academic dishonesty in any form will result in an automatic “0” for the assignment in question and further disciplinary action will be considered. Academic dishonesty includes the “giving” and “taking” of improper assistance in examinations and assignments; not adhering to correct procedures for identification of sources in reports, essays, and presentations; intentional misrepresentation; cheating; plagiarism; and unauthorized possession of examinations. Instances of academic dishonesty will be handled in accordance with the procedures explained in the UCO Student handbook.

Plagiarism and Academic Misrepresentation:

UCO subscribes to the Turnitin.com plagiarism prevention service. Students agree that by taking this course, all required assignments may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism.

Special Accommodations:

The University of Central Oklahoma complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with disabilities Act of 1990. Students with disabilities who need special accommodations must contact the Assistant Director of Disability Support Services (DSS), Nigh University Center, Room 309, (405) 974-2549. Students with special accommodation needs should also notify the course instructor during the first week of class.

Scope:

The Field Wildlife Forensic Science (FRSC 4943) learning experience will require participation in classroom lectures, group discussions, and laboratory demonstrations/exercises. Submission of a written wildlife necropsy analysis, based upon an independent observation and review of appropriate wildlife and forensic science literature, is also required.

Read Textbook Assignments, Supplemental Materials, and Review Laboratory Exercise Outlines Prior to Class.

Course Grade Computation:

 Course Oral Presentations – 50pts  Practical Field Exercise – 50pts  Moot Court Testimony – 50 pts  Travel/Field Journal – 100 pts  STLR Reflection Paper – 50 pts  Total Possible Course Points: 300

Grading Scale:

Points earned as a percentage of possible points:

90 – 100% A 80 – 89% B 70– 79% C 65 – 69% D Below 65% F

Oral Presentation:

Each course participants in required to create and present a 20-30 minute lecture/discussion on the anatomy and special marine adaptation of a relevant species of marine vertebrate. Specific species to be researched will be assigned prior to departure for SML by the course faculty. Each presentation should be well researched, informative, and clearly illustrated. A minimum of 6 PowerPoint slides and a summary handout is required. Each student will give their presentation to the class during an evening session. A rubric for the presentation will be provided prior to arrival at SML by course faculty.

Practical Field Exercise:

Each course participant is required to take part in and contribute to a culminating field exercise, which integrates skills learned during the field course and other course work. Students will be evaluated and graded on planning, teamwork, scene safety and security, situational assessment, scene management, event analysis, forensic techniques, scene documentation, and evidence recognition, collection, and preservation. An evaluation and grading rubric will be provided.

Moot Court Testimony:

Each participant will take part in a formal moot court. Testimony will be given which directly relates to activities conducted and evidence gathered during the practical field exercise. An evaluation and grading rubric will be provided.

Travel and Field Journal:

Each participant will keep a Travel and Field Journal containing daily entries of their course observations and experiences. A waterproof journal will be provided to each student prior to arrival at SML. Journal entries must be legible, informative, and clearly organized. Entries should include things like reflections of class lectures/discussions, laboratory/necropsy examinations, notes from the practical field exercise, and experiences and thoughts about the overall experience of staying at SML.

STLR Reflection Paper:

Each participant will submit a 1-2 page reflection paper through D2L before the final wrap meeting. This paper will focus on your overall transformative learning experience related to participating in the course. Content should address how participants’ perspectives and understanding changed during and after their attendance of the course. Once graded, students can upload the reflection to their STLR record. Specific content guidelines and directions on how to upload the paper to the STLR record will be provided by course faculty.

Student Complaints and Administrative Issues:

Student complaints may be sent directly to the Forensic Science Institute using the following email: [email protected]

FIELD WILDLIFE FORENSIC SCIENCE 2019:

PRACTICAL TECHNIQUES FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF MARINE MAMMAL STRANDINGS, MARITIME FORENSIC INQUIRIES, AND THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF MARINE WILDLIFE.

2019 TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE

Core Faculty:

Dr. Wayne D. Lord, Professor, W. Roger Webb Forensic Science Institute and Department of Biology, Center for Wildlife Forensic Science and Conservation Studies, University of Central Oklahoma (FBI retired).

Dr. Vicki Jackson, Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Center for Wildlife Forensic Science and Conservation Studies, University of Central Oklahoma (Certified Wildlife Biologist).

Guest Lecturers:

Dr. Robert D. Kenney, Emeritus Marine Research Scientist and Adjunct Professor in Residence, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island.

Dr. William C. Rodriguez, Senior Scientist, Oracle Forensic Science Consulting LLC, (Armed Forces Institute of Pathology-Retired.)

Dr. Inga Sidor, Senior Veterinary Pathologist and Assistant Clinical Professor, NH Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, University of New Hampshire.

Special Agent Michelle Zetwo, NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement, San Diego Field Office.

TENTATIVE COURSE LECTURE, LABORATORY, AND FIELD EXERCISE SCHEDULE

MONDAY

Depart Portsmouth, NH for Appledore Island via SML Vessel

LC: Faculty and Staff Introduction, Administrative Matters, SML Orientation

FE: Island Tour and History

LC: Course Introduction, Overview, Goals and Objectives, Faculty Expectations, Student Requirements. LCE: Introduction to Wildlife Forensic Science and Conservation.

TUESDAY

LC: Scene Response, Management, and Documentation.

LE: Maritime Search and Recovery Operations: “Scene Search, Diagramming, and Photography”.

LC: Vertebrate Decomposition: Ecology/Taphonomy.

LC: Wildlife Forensic Pathology/Toxicology.

LCE: Practical Wildlife Forensic Science: Forensic Case Discussions.

WEDNESDAY

LC: Pinnipeds: Morphology, Ecology and Field Identification.

LC: Vertebrate Necropsy Techniques and Procedures: Pinnipeds and Cetaceans.

FE: “Necropsy of Pinnipeds.

FE: Skeletal Evidence Collection.

LCE: Comparative Marine Osteology Laboratory.

THURSDAY

LC: Cetaceans: Morphology, Ecology and Field Identification.

FE: “Necropsy of Cetaceans”.

LC: Molecular Wildlife Forensics.

LC: Forensic “Arts and Crafts”: Field Techniques and Processes.

LCE: Practical Wildlife Forensic Science: Forensic Case Discussions

FRIDAY

LC: Marine Reptiles and Birds: Morphology, Ecology and Field Identification.

LE: Isles of Shoals Tour – RV Kingsbury “Sea Birds and Seals of Duck Island”.

LC: Vertebrate Necropsy Procedures and Techniques: Turtles and Birds.

LE: “Necropsy of Marine Birds”.

LCE: Practical Wildlife Forensic Science: Forensic Case Discussions. SATURDAY

LE: “Necropsy of Marine Turtles”.

LC: Response Team Organization and Management.

FE: Major Case Response and Management – “Scene Response Practicum”.

LC: Preparation of Scene Practicum Findings.

SUNDAY

LE: Moot Court: Testimony/Discussion of Practicum Findings.

LC: Expert Witness Qualifications and Wildlife Legal Review.

LC: Practical Wildlife Forensic Science: Educational and Career Opportunities.

FE: Whale watch

MONDAY

LE: Course Summary and Critique.

LE: Awarding of Certificates Students.

Depart Appledore Island for Portsmouth, NH via SML Vessel

(LC= lecture; LCE= Evening Lecture/Lab; FE= field exercise; LE=laboratory exercise)

*** The Course Schedule May Be Amended To Accommodate Changes in Weather, Vessel Availability, and Other Factors.