Top Forensic Anthropologist to Give Public Talk in Laramie

Aug. 14, 2006 -- Doug Owsley, one of the nation's top forensic anthropologists and a Smithsonian magazine person "Who Made a Difference," will speak about the role of a forensic anthropologist as part of this year's Wyoming State Bar meeting.

The talk, free and open to the public, is Wednesday, Aug. 16, at 8:30 a.m. in the University of Wyoming College of Education auditorium.

"On behalf of the Wyoming State Bar, I am pleased to bring Doug Owsley back to Laramie and have his presentation open to the public as a courtesy of Wyoming lawyers," says Wyoming Bar President Warren Lauer, a childhood friend of Owsley.

A Lusk native, Owsley serves as curator and division head for physical anthropology at the Smithsonian National Museum. During his distinguished career, Owsley has been involved in nationally recognized projects, including identifying the crew of the Civil War Confederate submarine CSS Hunley and determining whether Kennewick Man, a 9,600 year-old skeleton discovered in Washington state, was a direct ancestor of an existing Native American tribe.

He also has worked closely with law enforcement agencies to identify the remains of crime victims and those who died at the Branch Davidian complex in Waco, Texas, removed the anonymity of Croatian war victims, and identified the remains of U.S. service personnel serving in a variety of combat zones.

Owsley, a 1973 UW graduate, was profiled as an outstanding alumnus in the Fall 2003 issue of UWyo magazine. In November 2005, Smithsonian magazine included him, along with software pioneer Bill Gates, astronaut Sally Ride, film maker Steven Spielberg, city planner Robert Moses and musician Wynton Marsalis, as "35 Who Made a Difference." The magazine recognized artists, scholars and scientists who have enriched American life.

"We are delighted to partner with the Wyoming State Bar in bringing Doug Owsley back to campus," says Jerry Parkinson, dean of the UW College of Law, which is co-sponsoring Owsley's talk. "We know Dr. Owsley's presentation will be fascinating. We encourage members of the community to attend this public event."

The public also is invited to attend oral arguments before the Wyoming Supreme Court at 10:15 a.m., following Owsley's talk, at the Wyoming Union.

For more information, call the Wyoming State Bar at (307) 632-9061.

Photo: Doug Owsley

Posted on Monday, August 14, 2006