Tampa’s Forensic Investigation Program Experiments with Decomposition Rates

Forensic Investigations students at the Tampa campus participated in a 3 week  experimental study to examine the rate of decomposition in an outdoor setting.  While using an approved biological sample,  the students created various environments and allowed portions of sample to decay over a period of three weeks. The insect activity was documented as well as the stages of decomposition. Certain biological samples are very similer to humans in muscle, fat, and bone composition and density and are often used in forensic experimentation.  The students analyzed the rate of decomposition and compared them to variables influencing decomposition rate.