Indiana University of Pennsylvania will host Forensic Archaeology Public Day on Aug. 5 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. at the IUP South Campus Forensic Research Station.
The event is designed to show how forensic science and archaeology come together for crime scene investigation, and it is free and open to the community.
IUP’s forensic outdoor research station opened in 2024. The station represents a collaboration of faculty from anthropology, criminology, biology, and geology and aims to promote forensic science and decomposition-related research and training.
The outdoor station includes an enclosed half-acre on the university’s south campus, where students and faculty are encouraged to develop and pursue collaborative research projects.
During the event, students and faculty will present live demonstrations of clandestine grave excavations (with cast skeletons). Persons attending also will have the opportunity to meet practitioners and students from IUP’s Forensic Science Field School and learn about current forensic science research at IUP.
IUP’s forensic sciences major opened for students in fall 2025. The forensic science program draws on collaborators from across IUP departments including anthropology, biology, chemistry, criminology, and computer science, and PennWest University. It is administered by IUP’s Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences in John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
IUP is the only institution in the region offering three specializations in forensic sciences: applied field investigation, digital forensics, and laboratory sciences. Dr. Andrea Palmiotto, faculty member in the Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences, authored the proposal for the major.
More information about the event and the forensic science program is available by contacting Dr. Palmiotto at apalmot@iup.edu.
Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. IUP’s Impact 150 comprehensive campaign is designed to honor a legacy of educational excellence while looking toward a future of innovation, public service, and leadership in healthcare education, including the first college of osteopathic medicine at a public university in the commonwealth.