29 Mar 2025
In this 1.5-hour workshop, Dr. Michael Rivera will demonstrate the importance of strong osteological skills in the science of forensic anthropology.
➳ Registration Form
Time and Date: 17:00 - 19:00, Friday 28th March, 2025
Location: Prince Philip Dental Hospital (34 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun)
In this 1.5-hour workshop, Dr. Michael Rivera will demonstrate the importance of strong osteological skills in the science of forensic anthropology. Investigators must rely on their familiarity with skeletal anatomy to ascertain important information regarding the identities of deceased individuals. Forensic teams are often concerned with drawing up a biological profile - for instance, estimating biological sex, stature, body build, health conditions and age-at-death, through detailed examination of human bones and teeth. You will have a chance to see full sets of medical teaching skeletons laid out on the table, and learn about which anatomical parts tell us details pertaining to cause of death.
The workshop is held at the Prince Philip Dental Hospital (34 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun). This is where the HKU Bone Collection is curated, under HKU's Faculty of Dentistry. Gloves and worksheets will be provided on the day. Psychological preparation, the emotions that come with confronting death, and the ethics of working with human remains, will also be covered before we step into the room.
Important Note: Due to limited spaces, registration does not guarantee a spot. We will review all sign-ups and send confirmation emails to selected participants by 22 March 2025. Registration closes on 19 March 2025. Please complete this form as soon as possible to express your interest!
CONTACT
Email: ethos@hku.hk
Phone: +852 9296 9226 (Kyle Hui)
MORE ABOUT DR. MICHAEL RIVERA
Dr. Michael Rivera is a Filipino-Chinese biological anthropologist, writer, public speaker and interdisciplinary researcher. He is Hong Kong's very first bioanthropologist. Obtaining his PhD in 2019 from the University of Cambridge, his main research focuses on human skeletal biology, history of anthropological science, and human evolution over the last six million years. His PhD research involved reconstructing the diets, health profiles and physical activities through analysis of bones and teeth. He is currently working locally and internationally on the development of new forensic anthropology methods useful in the study of skeletal sexing, aging, stature estimation and palaeopathology.
Artwork Source: Albinus, Bernhard Siegfried. Tabulae sceleti et musculorum corporis humani. (Londini : Typis H. Woodfall, impensis Johannis et Pauli Knapton, 1749).
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