Professor Lady Sue Black delivers landmark Roscoe Lecture

Forensic science was put on trial when Professor Lady Sue Black DBE delivered LJMU’s 180th Roscoe Lecture.

Baroness Black spoke to a packed audience in the Concert Room of Liverpool’s St George’s Hall, reflecting on her groundbreaking work as the UK’s most experienced forensic anthropologist.

With more than 40 years’ experience of analysing evidence in criminal cases and appearing as an expert witness, she demonstrated her ability to articulate complex concepts with engaging clarity.

In the lecture, Baroness Black explored the importance of forensic science across political, investigative, legal and humanitarian domains, demonstrating why a robust forensic science system is vital to safe justice and the prevention of miscarriages of justice.

The lecture was hosted by Professor Caroline Wilkinson, lead for LJMU’s award-winning Forensic Science Institute and Face Lab.

During her visit to LJMU, Baroness Black also sat down to record an interview with LJMU Face Lab researchers Cherene De Bruyn and Thomas Dickinson. 

About the Roscoe Lecture series

The Roscoe Lecture series was launched in November 1997, thanks to a generous donation from honorary fellow Rex Makin, to provide an open platform for debate on topics of public interest. Today, they are one of the UK’s largest public lecture series, regularly attracting audiences of over 800 people.

The Roscoe Lectures play an important part in the intellectual life of Merseyside, helping to foster informed debate, broaden horizons and perspectives, and uphold the crucial spirit of intellectual inquiry and free speech in which Roscoe passionately believed.