The Forensic Anthropology Research Centre (FARC) at the University of Pretoria has a research focus on biological and forensic anthropology, specialising in human variation in modern populations for applications in forensics, facial approximation, orthodontics and digital imaging.

Research includes:

• Improvements to biological profile estimations (ancestry, sex, age, stature)
• Assessment of skeletal trauma, pathology, and taphonomy in human remains
• Computerised facial approximation
• Periodontics and dental implants
• Human and hominin variation

The FARC has strong collaborative ties with the international community in biological anthropology. Collaborations have aided in bringing southern African forensic anthropology, as a discipline, on par with international standards particularly regarding technological and statistical advances; international student exchange; and workshops. Additionally, international and national collaborations have also generated new topics in periodontics and hominin neuroanatomy, which are enriching and broadening our research focus and those of our students. 

Through Erasmus+ grant funding, the FARC is creating new opportunities for research in virtual anatomy, digital methodologies, automated procedures, and 3D-printing and allowing for further collaboration with various national and international partners.