Forensic science pioneer stands firm
With a stellar career and honorary professorship at Fudan University, Henry C. Lee maintains his principles and remains humble, Zheng Zheng reports in Shanghai.
Lee achieved his professional breakthrough by pioneering the application of scientific evidence in criminal convictions and introducing DNA analysis to criminal investigations. He has consulted on over 8,000 cases across 47 countries and regions, including several historically significant investigations, such as the Wood Chipper Murder case, the JFK Jr. aircraft accident, and the O.J.Simpson criminal trial. Throughout his career, Lee has upheld rigorous scientific standards, letting the evidence speak regardless of public pressure.
His fundamental principle remains unchanged — make the impossible possible. Lee has broken numerous barriers to become Connecticut's first chief criminalist and the first Asian in US history to hold a state-level police chief position. At the same time, he has received over 800 honorary awards. The Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science at the University of New Haven in Connecticut stands as testament to his contributions.
The pioneering forensic scientist has long observed the field's significant evolution. "When I first started, forensic scientists needed to know a bit of everything, from autopsies to toxicology, DNA analysis to fingerprinting. Nowadays, forensic scientists have become highly specialized, like those of other scientific disciplines," he explains.
He also notes that women now make up about 70 percent of forensic scientists in the US, a significant departure from the field's traditional gender norms. The male-to-female ratio of the forensic medicine major at Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University reached approximately 1:1, according to a report last year from local media Xinmin Evening News.
