Medical Museum Science Café: “Bugs, Bones and Dirt: Human Decomposition Ecology and Postmortem Microbiology”

Human decomposition is dependent on the environment—how our bodies end up depends on how a person was interred; the decomposer community, such as insects and animals; the number of bacterial cells in the body; and more. Join forensic anthropologist Franklin Damann, Ph.D., for a discussion about how studying the microbial community can help provide an estimate of the time since death. Additionally, he will share information about his current research as well as case studies from the University of Tennessee Anthropology Research Facility, also known as “The Body Farm.” Presented by the National Museum of Health and Medicine. This event will be held in the Fenton Room at the Silver Spring Civic Building.