Strathclyders Stuart Cooper and Adam McCarthy are proud graduates of the Forensic Science Masters’ course – Class of 1999-2000.
They were part of The Institute of Environmental Science & Research Ltd (ESR) team that scooped the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Science Prize this year. Named on the award are Stuart Cooper, Adam McCarthy and a number of their colleagues from ESR, in Auckland.
Stuart said: “This is the biggest science prize possible in New Zealand and we were honoured, delighted and humbled to win the award. It was great to meet the Prime Minister and spend a day at Parliament, in Wellington.”
ESR is a Crown Research Institute and one of its roles is to provide independent forensic services. ESR developed a forensic DNA interpretation software which is now used worldwide.
They provide training and support to laboratories all around the world and have travelled to deliver many DNA interpretation workshops/conferences in various locations (including USA, Canada, UK, Europe and Hong Kong).
Stuart started at the UK government forensic provider – The Forensic Science Service (FSS) after his studies at Strathclyde and spent around eight years there. He then moved to New Zealand in 2008 to work for the New Zealand government’s forensic provider – ESR.
Stuart’s focus has been in the area of DNA profile interpretation and being part of the development and training team, which supports a ground breaking piece of software (STRmix: www.strmix.com) which was developed in partnership between ESR and Forensic Science South Australia. This is now being used worldwide to assist in the interpretation of complex mixed DNA profiles.
Adam is based in the UK and works with ESR as the UK/European Associate, having 19 years of experience in Forensic Science since his days at Strathclyde.
For more information on the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Science Prize, check out their website.