Dr John Bond, Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Chemistry and Forensic Research Centre has been made an OBE in the Queen’s birthday honours. His work into the chemical detection of fingerprints on bullet casings has been widely acclaimed for its use in law enforcement and crime detection.

Dr Bond’s process for identifying 'invisible' fingerprints on brass bullet casings was cited as one of Time Magazine’s top 50 inventions of the year in 2008, and BBC Focus Magazine's inventions 'most likely to change the world' in 2009. The process was also featured on the hit TV show CSI Miami. 

In the past four years Dr Bond has published over forty research papers and has taken out eight patents.  Some of Dr Bond’s inventions are now commercially available and have been used by law enforcement agencies across the world.

He is currently working closely with Professor Rob Hillman and colleagues in the Department of Chemistry. As part of this work, a three-week residential summer school for undergraduate and postgraduate students CSI: Leicester is taking place from 18 July-6 August. This provides a unique insight into forensic science and its role in criminal justice.