Student Profile: Cass Chowdhury

I’m a longtime SFU student, with a joint BA in Anthropology and Archaeology, and an Honours BA in Criminology. I’m currently a Crim MA student. I also have a Business diploma from BCIT and an AA English from Langara  which are still relevant, because Criminology makes use of all of these skill sets.

HOW YOU BECAME INTERESTED IN CRIMINOLOGY?

I was working for the RCMP in a tiny rural detachment, as a data technician. Forensics as a path came to me like a life-changing revelation over the course of a few days. I was watching CSI one night with a few of the officers, and they were having a fine time heckling the forensic processes on screen. I thought: I could do that, for real. And I could handle the work, knowing it was helping people. The day after that I happened to get invited to visit the Ident Lab, and see what they did. The very next day I learned about the RCMP’s tuition incentive program, which lets staff get reimbursed a certain amount for university courses. Thanks to that program, I refreshed all my old Grade 12 sciences, then kept on studying and working part time through college, and finally ended up at studying and working at SFU. And I haven’t really stopped.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO COME TO SFU’s SCHOOL OF CRIMINOLOGY?

The unique Center for Forensic Research, which combines Archaeology and Criminology! Also, a strong nudge from my Forensic Anthropology instructor at Langara, who did his doctoral research here and maintains ties.

WHAT IS YOUR RESEARCH ABOUT?

Bones, or specifically, the methods we use for skeletal sex assessment, and why they don’t answer sex and gender questions completely. And identifying what barriers exist in forensic anthropology to expanding beyond the gender binary.

WHAT’S BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU HAVE FACED DURING YOUR PROGRAM AND HOW DID YOU OVERCOME IT?

Narrowing down my field of research into something workable. I have so many interests and they all have urgent needs. I happened to be at the AAFS conference in 2020, with some of the SFU Center for Forensic Research faculty and students, when I met the Trans Doe Task Force. I talked with them at the poster session about their work, and that interaction really helped settle my mind.

DESCRIBE YOUR PROGRAM FOR THOSE SEARCHING

Criminology isn’t just for prospective lawyers and police. It’s a very interdisciplinary program that brings a criminological perspective to many areas in science and social science. There are so many social issues with big justice/injustice questions to dig into.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS?

University is a major investment of time, energy, money, and more. You don’t need to know exactly what your path is – it will very almost certainly change – but make sure it’s the right time for you, and that you have the supports you need. While you’re responsible for yourself, you never have to go it alone. There are always people to reach out to.