Professor Ruth Morgan is an interdisciplinary scientist. Her work has two main areas of focus; the role of science in the justice system and the evaluation and communication of science in policy more broadly.

Professor Ruth Morgan’s research group is focused on the role of science evidence in the detection of crime and concerns the interpretation of forensic evidence and intelligence.  The research falls into two main areas; evidence dynamics and the interpretation of evidence.  

We are actively seeking to establish empirical evidence bases for understanding the evidence dynamics of trace materials (soil, sediment, pollen, DNA, gun-shot residue, explosives etc.) for their use as intelligence and evidence.  We are also conducting research that addresses the need to develop our understanding of decision-making and the interaction of multiple variables in crime investigation and detection.  We bring these two areas together in order to be developing an evidence base to enhance our ability to interpret the analysis of forensic materials more effectively, and to generate valuable and robust intelligence and evidence.

Recent projects have included:

• Developing automated approaches for establishing trace evidence dynamics for crime reconstruction approaches
• Addressing the creation of empirical bases for the development of frameworks that illustrate the interaction of different types of evidence and develop probabilistic approaches for assessing the weight of evidence.
• Establishing how contextual information influences decision making at every stage of the forensic science process and how it can impact what we ultimately understand the evidence to mean.
• Engaging science and policy with a consideration of forensic science as a holistic process (crime scene to court). 
• Considering innovative engagement (across disciplines and beyond the academy) and the role of creativity in the co-creation and production of knowledge.

Ruth has been the co-recipient of the Chartered Society for the Forensic Sciences' PW Allen Award for best research 3 times (2006, 2016, 2018).  Her research is regularly presented at international conferences and featured in popular media.