Instructors:Brian Yamashita, Ph.D.Fons Chafe

Brian Yamashita was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He received a B.Sc. (Hons.) Degree in Chemistry from the University of Manitoba and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Western Ontario in London, ON. He was a Killam Postdoctoral Fellow at Dalhousie University, a Chemistry Instructor at the University of Victoria, and a Research Associate with Atomic Energy of Canada before joining the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in 1989. He currently works as a research scientist in Integrated Forensic Identification Services in Ottawa, doing research and development work in forensic science, with an emphasis on forensic identification. He has authored or co-authored over 40 papers in the physical chemistry and forensic science literature and has lectured extensively on chemical development of fingerprints and the use of forensic light sources, the application of the Scientific Method to forensic science, and bloodstain pattern analysis. He is a member of the IAI, IABPA, CIS, CIC, and CSFS. He is on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Forensic Identification, and is the Editor of the Canadian Society of Forensic Science (CSFS) Journal.

Fons Chafe was born and raised in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada. He received B.A., B.Ed., B.Sc. (mathematics) and M.Ed. degrees from Memorial University. He was a police officer in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for 25 years and was a member of the crime scenes investigation unit. He has been qualified as an expert witness in bloodstain pattern analysis, crime scene investigation, and fingerprint examination in Canadian courts. He currently works as an assistant professor in the Police and Investigation Studies program at MacEwan University.