The College of Continuing Education and Community Service (CCECS)
at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo will offer two weekly, non-credit courses in
forensics and mortuary science this fall.
Classes will be held Friday, September 11 through November 20 in the Science
and Technology Building Room 305. “Introduction to Mortuary Science” meets from
2:00-4:00 p.m. and “Introduction to Forensics: Real Life CSI” from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Tuition is $150 per course, or $275 for both.
The mortuary science class covers the science, history and culture of death in the
human body. Topics include embalming, government regulations, and the evolution of funeral services. Photos of dead bodies will also be shown. The forensics class guides participants through analysis of a crime scene. Detection and analysis of DNA traces, fiber, hair, body fluids, fingerprints, footprints, toxic substances and illegal drugs will be covered, as will proper handling, careful observation and logical evidence interpretation.
Instructor Dr. Kristal Uhl-Blacksmith holds a Doctorate in Environmental
Engineering, a Master's in Biology and a Mortuary Science Degree. She currently works as an environmental engineering consultant, and has her own business, "Kristal Clear Solutions." She formerly worked as a mortician and taught Biology, Anatomy and Forensics at the high school level.
For more information or to register, please contact CCECS at (808) 974-7664,
email ccecs@hawaii.edu or visit http://hilo.hawaii.edu/academics/ccecs/registration/.