Urban Honking

Tuesday, November 16

7:00pm Adventures in Forensic Anthropology @ Mission Theater

I Dig Bones: Adventures in Forensic Anthropology
Tuesday, November 16 at the Mission Theater

Ever want to know what happens when mysterious human remains are found in the woods? Ever wondered how bodies are identified, even after death and decomposition? Dr. Nici Vance will provide a glimpse into the life of bones, bodies, and biological anthropology as she explains how skeletal remains are discovered, recovered, and analyzed for identification purposes. Dr. Vance will also highlight the importance of DNA analysis in bringing closure to families of missing persons throughout the nation and what you can do to help.

Dr. Veronica “Nici” Vance is from the Oregon State Police Forensic Laboratory and the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office. She has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Montana (Go Griz!), a master’s degree in anthropology from Portland State University, and a PhD in anatomy from the University of Pretoria (South Africa) School of Medicine. She has been a forensic scientist, crime scene analyst, and anthropologist for 15 years. Nici currently works in the Forensic Biology section of the crime lab, which analyzes biological evidence from homicides, attempted homicides, assaults, and high profile cases. She also acts as a liaison to the Medical Examiner’s Office as their forensic anthropologist. She has responded to over 150 crime scenes in her career and examined bodies and skeletal remains from every county in the state of Oregon. In addition to loving the dynamic composition of bone as a profession, Nici is a long-distance runner, a novice cyclist, a disc golfer (unsponsored), and a rabid University of Oregon Ducks fan.