Abstract:     Forensic microscopy normally involves associating tool marks, broken wires, semen, hairs, fibers, paint, glass, soil and other microscopic particles with places or perpetrators of crime. Like real evidence, imaging of microscopic trace evidence conveys a relevant firsthand sense impression to the jury as compared to words or graphs which serve merely to report the secondhand sense impressions of others or instruments. Like all visualization, forensic imaging documents an object by recording its location and morphology using light, lens, detector, retina, and brain. Sometimes special attachments are necessary such as a spot light, Polaroid sun glasses and binoculars; and, sometimes, special recording devices are used like snapshot or video cameras. With a microscope, special techniques are also necessary to enhance contrast, magnify, detect, and record useful images. Some of these techniques require making use of optical properties and some require use of chemical properties to either image or map features useful for the identification and comparison of materials of forensic merit.

Biography:     Richard E. Bisbing is Vice President and Director of Research for McCrone Associates, Inc., Westmont, Illinois. Mr. Bisbing has responsibilities for managing: the scientific staff; industrial, governmental and forensic projects; contracts; quality; security, safety; and marketing. He also consults on a variety of projects in analytical light microscopy and the forensic sciences, while overseeing projects in chemistry and electron microscopy.

Prior to joining McCrone Associates, Bisbing worked for the State of Michigan for 18 years in the Departments of Public Health and State Police with assignments in the Lansing, East Lansing, and Bridgeport Forensic Science Laboratories. His duties included crime scene investigations, chemical analyses of drugs and fire debris, body fluid identifications, footwear identifications, microscopical comparison of trace evidence, research, teaching, expert court testimony, and supervision. At the Bridgeport Laboratory, he directed the scientific work of the trace evidence unit for nine years, overseeing the progress and completion of all cases including several hundred homicide cases. He received four citations for professional excellence from the Michigan State Police.

He has testified in over 500 trials in 21 states and Canada; authored several articles and book chapters on forensic science, microscopy, and archaeology; lectured at Michigan State University, The University of Michigan, University of Illinois, Northwestern University, and for the Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area, a consortium of Liberal Arts Colleges founded in 1966; and been a pundit for CNN News regarding the O.J. Simpson and JonBenet Ramsey cases, 850 KOA Radio in Denver regarding the Chandra Levy case, and CBC news in Toronto regarding the Guy Paul Morin case. He also consulted on CBS's show "C.S.I." Bisbing is internationally regarded as an expert in the forensic identification and comparison of hairs, fibers and soil. His trace evidence work has been featured on the Discovery Channel's "The New Detectives: Case Studies in Forensic Science" and A&E's "Cold Case Files." He serves on the FBI's Scientific Working Group for Materials and as Guest Reviewer for the Journal of Forensic Sciences, the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, and TheScientificWorld.