The fire at Grenfell Tower on 14 June 2017 claimed the lives of 72 people and was the deadliest structural fire in the UK since the Blitz of World War II. The investigation into the fire at Grenfell tower comprised a comprehensive examination of physical evidence at the scene as well as subsequent detailed analysis of various items recovered from the incident location. The initial scene examination provided a clear indication as to the primary cause of the fire. Under intense scrutiny, this hypothesis was tested through the examination of numerous exhibits. The results of these examinations were used to support the subsequent public enquiry and inform further litigations, still ongoing 8 years later.

The talk will be given by Dan Matthews, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Lincoln and Programme Leader for the Forensic Science BSc course. He teaches at undergraduate and postgraduate levels across several different areas within Forensic Science and Analytical Chemistry. Dan studied Chemistry at the University of Wales, Bangor and was a court-going forensic expert for over 20 years, mainly at the Forensic Science Service and Key Forensic Services.

His areas of expertise include glass, paint, DNA, body fluids analysis, blood pattern analysis and fire scene investigation. He was involved as an expert in numerous cases, including high profile incidents such as the Grenfell Tower Fire in 2017.

He entered higher education in 2018 at Coventry University and moved to the University of Lincoln in 2021. Dan’s areas of interest include authentic assessment design for students, accelerants analysis, developing new methods for trace evidence analysis and investigating the potential of everyday items as useful forensic evidence.

Alongside his research interests, Dan continues to be active in casework and within international working groups. He is currently the deputy chair of the ENFSI Fire and Explosions Investigation Working Group.

Wednesday 15 October
4.45pm – 6.30pm
The Bridge (Edgewest Road, Lincoln, LN6 7EL) or Online.

Register to attend in person or online.

Story submitted by Matthew Thornton
mthornton@lincoln.ac.uk