Profile
Caroline Wilkinson
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About Me:
I live with my husband and dog in Liverpool, and we have a grown-up daughter who lives in London. I love spending time with friends, baking, gardening, walking the dog and watching old films.
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My pronouns are:
she/her
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My Work:
I am Director of Face Lab and Professor of Craniofacial Identification at Liverpool John Moores University. In Face Lab we carry out research related to faces, skulls and identity – this includes the interpretation of the bones of the skull in order to reconstruct and depict facial appearance for forensic identification and/or archaeological investigation.
My work has included the facial depiction of King Richard III, King Robert I of Scotland (Robert the Bruce), Rameses II (Egyptian Pharaoh) and St Nicolas.
I teach Masters students on the MA Art in Science programme and am Institutional Lead for Forensic Research Strategy. -
Read more
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My Typical Day:
Face Lab is based in the centre of Liverpool and I get the Merseyrail to work at 8.30am. My day at work does not follow a predictable pattern, so is never dull! Most days, I have a number of online meetings and respond to emails. We have a Face Lab meeting every couple of weeks and we all work at least one day from home. We have a number of forensic cases every year, and these can be from anywhere in the world. In addition, we have a new archaeological case most months and we work on each one as a team. We use 2D and 3D creative software and frequently use 4D/3D scanners, 3D printing, 3D computer modelling, CGI, animation and 3DÂ imaging. Most days end between 5 and 7pm.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
Face Lab would use this money to produce a 3D replica of the skull utilised in the lecture to give to the museum.
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Education:
I was a pupil at Ripon Grammar School in North Yorkshire. I studied my first degree at the University of Manchester followed by art training at Blackpool College of Art and then back at the University of Manchester. I worked in the Medical School at the University of Manchester for many years, where I studied for a part time PhD.
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Qualifications:
10 O Levels (Mixture of science and arts)
5 A levels (Maths, Art, Chemistry, Biology, General Studies)
B.Sc. Hons Physiology. The University of Manchester.
BA Scientific Illustration, Blackpool College of Art.
MPhil –Â Medical Art. The University of Manchester.
Ph.D. Facial Anthropology. The University of Manchester.
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Work History:
2014-2022 – Director of School, Liverpool John Moores University
2014 – Director of Graduate Studies, College of Art, Science and Engineering, University of Dundee
2011-2014 – Professor of Craniofacial identification and Head of identification, Centre for Anatomy & Human Identification, University of Dundee
2005-2011 –Â Senior Lecturer in Forensic Anthropology, University of Dundee
2000- 2005 – Research Fellow and Unit Manager, University of Manchester
1995 – 2000 – Medical Artist, Unit of Art in Medicine, University of Manchester
1992-1993 – Medical Artist, Limbs & Things Ltd, Bristol
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Current Job:
Institutional Lead for Forensic Research Strategy and Director of Face Lab
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Employer:
Liverpool John Moores University
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My Interview
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My favourite CHRISTMAS LECTURES memory is:
David Attenborough was unforgettable
How is your work linked to the CHRISTMAS LECTURES
We produced the facial depiction in Lecture 1, 2022
How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Northern face analyst
What did you want to be after you left school?
pathologist
Were you ever in trouble at school?
never!
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
theatre prop maker
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Stevie Wonder
What's your favourite food?
rhubarb
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
teleportation, time travel, everlasting teeth
Tell us a joke.
Two cannibals eating a clown. One cannibal says to the other, "Does this taste funny?".
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