Spring Break
RWU forensics professor discusses drug detection, classification Friday
Jeff Sullivan
Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: Campus
04/02/08 - Gino Rebussini, an adjunct professor of forensic science at Roger Williams University, offered his expertise on the subjects of drug detection, classification and slang at a forensics lecture in Pastore Hall last Friday.
Rebussini, recently retired from the state Department of Health, worked as the supervisor of the Forensic Science Laboratory for 31 years before retiring.
Rebussini discussed forensic science's new role and how it's becoming more like studying law than other applied sciences, especially when it comes to illegal or controlled substances.
"We have to do things a lot differently than what we'd do in a regular hospital, because our stuff goes to court all the time," he said. "That's the only difference between regular analytical chemistry compared to forensic science, because it is science applied to the law."
Rebussini said that because of the three-part dynamic in the state processing system between the police, the courts and forensics laboratories, there can always be some confusion. Because they are separate institutions, it's like one hand not knowing what the other is doing, he said.
"You have three-fold purpose in which each one needs each other, but no one [department] knows what the other is doing," Rebussini said. "It's a constant learning experience in trying to pull all three fields together."
Rebussini's responsibilities during his time at the Forensic Drug Laboratory varied from managing chemical testing to testifying in all tiers of the Rhode Island court system more than 600 times.
He is currently putting together support for forensic science curricula in both private and public high schools across the state to increase awareness of the field.
"We're constantly learning new things," he said. "Why? Because the bad guys are getting smarter. They're making new drugs, new poisons out there that are killing. Scientists have to figure out what they're making, even if we don't have it in our computer banks."
Rebussini, recently retired from the state Department of Health, worked as the supervisor of the Forensic Science Laboratory for 31 years before retiring.
Rebussini discussed forensic science's new role and how it's becoming more like studying law than other applied sciences, especially when it comes to illegal or controlled substances.
"We have to do things a lot differently than what we'd do in a regular hospital, because our stuff goes to court all the time," he said. "That's the only difference between regular analytical chemistry compared to forensic science, because it is science applied to the law."
Rebussini said that because of the three-part dynamic in the state processing system between the police, the courts and forensics laboratories, there can always be some confusion. Because they are separate institutions, it's like one hand not knowing what the other is doing, he said.
"You have three-fold purpose in which each one needs each other, but no one [department] knows what the other is doing," Rebussini said. "It's a constant learning experience in trying to pull all three fields together."
Rebussini's responsibilities during his time at the Forensic Drug Laboratory varied from managing chemical testing to testifying in all tiers of the Rhode Island court system more than 600 times.
He is currently putting together support for forensic science curricula in both private and public high schools across the state to increase awareness of the field.
"We're constantly learning new things," he said. "Why? Because the bad guys are getting smarter. They're making new drugs, new poisons out there that are killing. Scientists have to figure out what they're making, even if we don't have it in our computer banks."
