In this episode, Dr. Sarah Lockyer (Casualty Identification Program, Canadian Department of National Defense) talks about her work identifying the human remains of Canadian soldiers who perished during World War I, World War II and the conflict in Korea. We discuss not only the nature of the work, but also where her initial interests in forensics and anthropology stemmed from and the path she took to the position she now works in.

How does Sarah develop a biological profile of these deceased individuals and is DNA used commonly as a tool for identification? What are the complications that could occur before and after death that make a reliable identification more difficult? What happens when notifying the families or a positive identification and how are military burials handled in the final stages of this process?

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Show notes

If you have feedback or questions for Sarah, you can find her on Twitter. You can find more about the Casuality Identification Program as well through the program’s website to find out more.

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