Tasmanian Institute of Law Enforcement Studies (TILES)

Farewell of former TILES Director, launch of Critical Forensic Studies

On Friday 29 April, the Tasmanian Institute of Law Enforcement Studies hosted a farewell celebration for the Founding Director of TILES, Emeritus Professor Roberta Julian. The event also included the launch of Roberta Julian, Loene Howes, and Rob White’s book Critical Forensic Studies by Mr Alastair Ross, AM and Founding Director of the National Institute of Forensic Science.

Roberta was the Director of TILES at its inception, and supported the institute and its research associates throughout the nearly 20 year history of the organisation. While TILES was central to Roberta’s research in the latter half of her career, many know Roberta from her life-long interest in the experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse people, and the migrant and refugee experience in Tasmania.

Roberta is standing behind a University of Tasmania lectern speaking to a crowd in a room. Loene is on one side of her and Rob is on the other.
Roberta gives her farewell speech, accompanied by Loene and Rob.
Photo courtesy of Vicky Nagy.

Current TILES Director, Professor Nicole Asquith, in her introductory comments noted that “… at least three, possibly four, generations of policing and forensic scholars” mentored by Roberta were present at the celebration, and that Roberta was “what’s best about academia ... we will miss her insights, kind words and strategic vision”.

Distinguished Professor Rob White recounted Roberta’s career stating, “Through it all, Roberta has been a strong ally and consistent beacon of progressiveness at UTAS and in many other domains. … This ‘social action’ approach has pervaded everything that Roberta has done”.

In her closing words  Roberta expressed gratitude to colleagues, friends and family for supporting her throughout her career, “So my plan for retirement is to spend more time with family, reading fiction and walking on beaches. Thank you all for coming today, for allowing me to reflect on a career that I have loved, and to thank you all for your part in making it happen”.

The celebration of Roberta’s career was attended by around 60 people in person and online.

Critical Forensic Studies, published by Routledge, provides a comprehensive overview of the emerging interdisciplinary field. It reviews existing research and scholarship on forensic science from a critical social science perspective, while forging a blueprint for further work in this area.

Published on: 06 May 2022