Facial reconstructions of wanted criminals and unidentified corpses will be made in Liverpool from next week after the official opening of the city’s Face Lab.
The pioneering facility, part of John Moores University, will also be used by archaeologists to work out how historical figures, who died thousands of years ago, would have looked.
The Face Lab, which opens on January 30, hit headlines last month after scientists used state-of-the-art software to recreate the face of St Nicholas, the Greek bishop who died nearly 1,700 years ago and became better known as Santa Claus.
The Face Lab will also be able to reconstruct profiles based on skeletons discovered during archaeological expeditions and produce facial images for forensic scientists following the discovery of decomposed bodies.
Police forces will also use the facility to make e-fits of criminals based on witness accounts or partial CCTV evidence.
Forensic anthropologist Prof Caroline Wilkinson, director of the Face Lab, said: “We look forward to working with the region’s police, forensic organisations and museums to reveal faces of the past and present, as well as a continuation of our national and international work.
“We also intend to make the research of the Face Lab accessible through our public engagement activity and exhibition contribution – and we plan to run a related art-science postgraduate course at Liverpool School of Art and Design in the near future.”
University vice-chancellor Prof Nigel Weatherill, added: “We are delighted to launch the Fab Lab, which will become renowned as a centre of excellence for craniofacial analysis and forensic art.
“The university already has outstanding relationships with police forces and museums across the North West and we hope the Face Lab will build upon these relationships.
“Through public lectures regarding the work of the Face Lab, we will also aim to further advance our position as a modern civic university.”
The Face Lab is located at Liverpool Science Park off Mount Pleasant.
Monday 26 January 2015
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/facial-reconstruction-lab-open-liverpool-8513545
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