Cris Hughes

Did you ever collect something from nature as a kid, preserving it to recall cherished memories later in time? Capturing the beauty and wonder of the natural world through foraged finds is the mission of Cris Hughes (GSP), a local artist and Clinical Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Hughes’ art showcases 3D botanical compositions created from dried specimens of plants and insects foraged from nature.

The landscape of forensic DNA has shifted in recent years to not only include different types of genetic data, but also expand how DNA can help improve the science and the investigations themselves. Such a shifting landscape requires new investigative strategies, and key Illinois institutions are looking towards deeper collaborations to make it happen. To this end, the Illinois State Police and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are partnering to combine distinct but complementary skills and resources.

The Illinois Forensic Science Commission relies on U of I to debate pressing issues facing police investigators

Since March, some of the most pressing issues of forensic science and crime in the state of Illinois have been discussed and debated at the Carl R. Woese Institute of Genomic Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

In conjunction with Parkland Community College's Pathways program and the Department of Anthropology, classes held at the IGB for ANTH 247 introduce students to the laboratory practices, molecular biology and DNA analysis skills commonly used by forensic DNA scientists. A hands-on, interactive approach is used that incorporates many of the same tools used by professional forensic DNA scientists.