Souhegan Students Interview University Researcher

Jeanne Neverisky

Students in Anne C W ‘s Anatomy and Physiology class recently enjoyed a virtual field trip to the University of Tennessee, Anthropology Research Facility.

Patience Roby, one of the students in class, shared an interest in something known as the “Body Farm”.  As she told the class about the forensic science research done at the facility, teacher Anne Clifton Waite lightheartedly proposed a class field trip. Working with students in the classroom on job shadow connections, Jeanne Neverisky took that one step further by exploring the possibility of an interview via Skype.

Skype is a real-time video/audio service that allows people to communicate over a distance but still see the person while they are speaking with them.

On April 4 this idea became reality as the students spoke with Dr. Steadman, Director of the Forensic Anthropology Center and Professor of Anthropology. at University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her research interests lie in forensic anthropology, bioarcheology and human rights investigations.  The facility is the site of specific and unusual forensic research: a place for both training for the FBI and medical research.

The facility was founded by Professor Emeritus. Dr. Bass, as he saw a need for research related to determining the length of time since death.  For more about the FAC and ARF you can see their website http://fac.utk.edu/faculty.html

The Anatomy class had spent some time online investigating the facility and was ready to ask some questions, such as: how did you get to this career?   What is your role at the facility?   Dr. Steadman graciously shared her knowledge, and her story of how she came to be in this field, in this place.  She filled students in on her academic journey through medical school and then her discovery of an interest in anthropology.  She had to take an elective for a college education requirement, and chose anthropology-- which happened to change the course of her life and work.   

Dr. Steadman’s volunteer work has included identifying remains in the 9/11 tragedy and in war-torn countries identifying victims in mass graves.  Some of the research done at the center involves gathering DNA data-- to save future lives.  Dr Steadman told the students that she sees the work as a service, so that justice may be the outcome for a victim, solving a problem and helping  families.

In a discussion after the Skype session students shared their thoughts on what they had heard and learned. One scientific piece of new information that their teacher explored with them was the research that isotopes in a bone could be used to determine a person’s place of origin.

Students were impressed by Dr. Steadman’s work in helping others in foreign countries, interested in the DNA collection and bone collection, in Dr. Steadman’s advice on medical school preparation, among others.The teacher was excited to discover that the facility will be offering a course to high school teachers, related to anatomy and forensic science.

Students of the class now know how a talk with a professional can inform them, expanding their horizons as in their job shadow experiences.  They also know not to let distance be a barrier