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Angela Silva Bessa completed her BSc in Biology at the University of Porto, Portugal. She also holds a MSc in Human Evolution and Biology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Forensic Anthropology from the University of Coimbra, Portugal. Angela is currently a PhD candidate in Forensic Anthropology at the University of Coimbra, and a Forensic Anthropologist Certified Level II by FASE (Forensic Anthropology Society of Europe). Her research interests include human mummification, forensic taphonomy, cemeterial management, and postmortem interval estimation.
Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Angela Raquel Silva Bessa

Citation names

  • Silva-Bessa, A.
  • Bessa, A.

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
8C1B-BD1D-523A
ORCID iD
0000-0003-1336-0446

Knowledge fields

  • Social Sciences - Sociology - Anthropology
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Other Medical Sciences - Forensic Science
  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Biology
  • Humanities - History and Archaeology - Archaeology
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Basic Medicine - Toxicology
  • Natural sciences - Earth and Environmental Sciences - Geology

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2)
Italian Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Upper intermediate (B2) Advanced (C1)
Spanish; Castilian Elementary (A2) Intermediate (B1) Beginner (A1) Intermediate (B1)
French Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Elementary (A2) Intermediate (B1)
German Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1)
Education
Degree Classification
2024/01/22
Concluded
 Certificado de Competências Pedagógicas (Outros)
Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional, Portugal
2019/09 - 2023/07
Ongoing
 Forensic Anthropology (Doutoramento)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2023/07
Concluded
 Operational Research for Humanitarians (Online Course) (Outros)
Universidade de Geneva, Switzerland
2023/03
Concluded
 What can forensic medicine teach us for the management of pandemics? (Online Course) (Outros)
European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Switzerland
2021/11 - 2021/11
Concluded
 FASE Online Advanced Course in Virtual Anthropology (Outros)
Forensic Anthropology Society of Europe, Switzerland
2021/04 - 2021/05
Concluded
 Advanced Course in Clinical Toxicology (Outros)
Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, Portugal
2021/02 - 2021/02
Concluded
 Science Communication and Public Speaking (Outros)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2021/02 - 2021/02
Concluded
 Writing in the Sciences (Outros)
Stanford University, United States
2021/01 - 2021/01
Concluded
 Introduction to International Humanitarian Law (Outros)
International Committee of the Red Cross, Switzerland
2021/01 - 2021/01
Concluded
 Practical Seminar of Specialization in Forensic Geology and Pedology (Outros)
Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, Portugal
2021/01 - 2021/01
Concluded
 Seminar of Specialization in Forensic Geology and Pedology (Outros)
Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, Portugal
2021/01 - 2021/01
Concluded
 Real Bones: Adventures in Forensic Anthropology (Outros)
Princeton University, United States
2020/12 - 2020/12
Concluded
 Introduction to Ancient Egypt and Its Civilization (Outros)
University of Pennsylvania Online Learning, United States
2020/10 - 2020/12
Concluded
 Training Course for Thanatology Technician (Título de especialista)
Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses Delegação do Sul, Portugal
2019/09 - 2019/09
Concluded
 Forensic Anthropology Society of Europe Advanced Course in Biomechanics (Outros)
Forensic Anthropology Society of Europe, Switzerland
2017 - 2018
Concluded
 Forensic Anthropology (Pós-Graduação)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
2017/10 - 2017/11
Concluded
 XVII Course of Legal Medicine and other Forensic Sciences (Outros)
Universidade do Porto Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Portugal
2017/09 - 2017/09
Concluded
 Advanced Course and One-day Symposium in Anthropology and Migration (Outros)
Forensic Anthropology Society of Europe, Switzerland
2017/03 - 2017/03
Concluded
 Practical Seminar of Specialization in Dental Medicine and Forensic Anthropology (Outros)
Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, Portugal
2017/03 - 2017/03
Concluded
 Seminar of Specialization in Forensic Anthropology (Outros)
Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, Portugal
2015 - 2017
Concluded
 Human Evolution and Biology (Mestrado)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
"A morfometria geométrica e a ancestralidade: estimativa em indivíduos da Coleção de Esqueletos Identificados do Século XXI da Universidade de Coimbra" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
2016/11 - 2016/11
Concluded
 Short Course in Pubic Symphysis and Age-at-death Estimation in Forensic Anthropology (Outros)
Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses, Portugal
2016/09 - 2016/09
Concluded
 Basic Workshop in Forensic Anthropology (Outros)
Forensic Anthropology Society of Europe, Switzerland
2015/03 - 2015/07
Concluded
 ERASMUS (Outros)
Università degli Studi di Catania, Italy
2012 - 2015
Concluded
 Biology (Licenciatura)
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2014/03 - 2014/03
Concluded
 Workshop “Statistics in Biology” (Outros)
Universidade do Porto Núcleo de Estudantes de Biologia, Portugal
2013/11 - 2013/11
Concluded
 Workshop "Bioinvasions in a Context of Climate Change: Implications for Environmental, Animal and Human Health" (Outros)
Universidade do Porto Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Portugal
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2021/03 - Current Researcher (Research) 1H-TOXRUN - One Health Toxicology Research Unit, Portugal
2019/09 - Current Researcher (Research) Universidade de Coimbra Laboratório de Antropologia Forense, Portugal
2023/06 - 2023/08 Visiting Researcher (Research) The James Hutton Institute, United Kingdom
2023/04 - 2023/04 Visiting Researcher (Research) Simon Fraser University, Canada
2022/01 - 2022/07 Visiting Researcher (Research) REQUIMTE LAQV Porto, Portugal
2017/10 - 2018/12 Researcher (Research) Universidade do Porto Museu de História Natural e da Ciência, Portugal
2018/07 - 2018/08 Visiting Researcher (Research) Mummy Studies Field School, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA, & Department of Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity, Italy, Italy
2016/09 - 2017/07 Researcher (Research) Universidade de Coimbra Laboratório de Antropologia Forense, Portugal
2016/11 - 2016/12 Research Trainee (Research) Universidade de Coimbra Laboratório de Antropologia Forense, Portugal
2014/09 - 2015/01 Research Trainee (Research) Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Portugal
2014/01 - 2014/05 Research Trainee (Research) Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses Delegação do Norte, Portugal

Teaching in Higher Education

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2022/09 - Current Invited Assistant (University Teacher) Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, Portugal

Positions / Appointments

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2022/10 - Current Secretária da Assembleia Geral Associação Portuguesa de Ciências Forenses, Portugal

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2020/04 - 2020/04 Volunteer as Physical Anthropologist SAND - Sarilhos Grandes entre Dois Mundos, Portugal
2016/08 - 2016/08 Volunteer as Physical Anthropologist Campo Arqueológico de Mértola, Portugal
Projects

Contract

Designation Funders
2021/01/01 - 2025/12/31 Instituto para a Saúde e a Bioeconomia
LA/P/0140/2020
10.54499/LA/P/0140/2020
Associação do Instituto Superior Técnico para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento, Portugal

Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Bioengenharia e Biociências, Portugal

Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal

INESC Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias, Portugal

Rede de Química e Tecnologia Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde, Portugal

Associação para a Inovação e Desenvolvimento da FCT, Portugal

Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2020/01/01 - 2023/12/31 Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas
UIDP/04378/2020
10.54499/UIDP/04378/2020
Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal

Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal

Rede de Química e Tecnologia Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde, Portugal

Associação para a Inovação e Desenvolvimento da FCT, Portugal

Universidade do Porto Instituto de Ciências Tecnologias e Agroambiente, Portugal

Universidade do Porto, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2019/01/01 - 2019/12/31 Centre for Functional Ecology
UID/BIA/04004/2019
Universidade de Coimbra Centre for Functional Ecology - Science for People & the Planet, Portugal

Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
Outputs

Publications

Conference abstract
  1. A. Silva-Bessa; R. Azevedo; A. Almeida; R. J. Dinis-Oliveira. "Shedding light on Portugal's first major forensic case: elemental analysis of biological samples 132 years later". 2023.
    10.48797/SL.2023.110
  2. Angela Silva-Bessa; Shari L. Forbes; Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira; Áurea Madureira-Carvalho; Maria Teresa Ferreira. "A preliminary study on five exhumed bodies and their burial graves from the Cemetery of Prado do Repouso (Porto, Portugal)". 2022.
    10.51126/revsalus.v4isup.251
  3. Angela Silva-Bessa; Maria Teresa Ferreira; Shari L. Forbes; Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira. "Unravelling mysteries and preserved secrets: an overview on the application of Toxicology on archaeological and forensic mummified bodies". 2022.
    10.51126/revsalus.v4isup.277
Conference poster
  1. Bessa, A.; Dinis-Oliveira, R. J.; Forbes, S. L.; Ferreira, M. T.. "To mummies and beyond: the application of forensic taphonomy in cemeteries management". Paper presented in 18º Congresso Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses, 2019.
  2. Bessa, A; Ferreira, M. T.; Cunha, E.. "The influence of bone preservation in ancestry assessment: a challenge in forensic anthropology". Paper presented in Taphos-Nomos: Taphonomy in archaeology, forensic science & palaeontology, 2018.
  3. Bessa, A; Navega, D.; Ferreira, M. T.; Cunha, E.. "Finding what is missing: three-dimensional coordinates estimation for ancestry assessment through geometric morphometrics". Paper presented in Forensic Anthropology Society of Europe One-day Symposium: Anthropology and Migration, 2017.
Journal article
  1. Silva-Bessa, Angela; Madureira-Carvalho, Áurea; Azevedo, Rui M. S.; Dawson, Lorna; Dinis-Oliveira, Ricardo Jorge; Forbes, Shari L.; Ferreira, Maria Teresa. "A soil-based approach on human taphonomy from five Portuguese public cemeteries". Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences (2023): 1-20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00450618.2023.2289378.
    Published • 10.1080/00450618.2023.2289378
  2. Angela Silva-Bessa; Maria Teresa Ferreira; Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira. "Among Bodies: Portuguese Cemeterial Exhumations Three Years after a Pandemic". Forensic Sciences 3 2 (2023): 293-301. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci3020022.
    10.3390/forensicsci3020022
  3. Sara Sousa Queirós; Barbara von der Lühe; Angela Silva-Bessa; Andreia Machado Brito-da-Costa; Inês Morais Caldas; Lorna Dawson; Áurea Madureira-Carvalho. "Lipidic compounds found in soils surrounding human decomposing bodies and its use in forensic investigations – A narrative review". Science & Justice 63 3 (2023): 303-312. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2023.02.001.
    10.1016/j.scijus.2023.02.001
  4. Angela Silva-Bessa; Shari L. Forbes; Maria Teresa Ferreira; Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira. "Toxicological Analysis of Drugs in Human Mummified Bodies and Proposed Guidelines". Current Drug Research Reviews 15 1 (2023): 62-72. http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/2589977514666220914084543.
    10.2174/2589977514666220914084543
  5. Angela Silva-Bessa; Áurea Madureira-Carvalho; Lorna Dawson; Maria Teresa Ferreira; Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira; Shari L. Forbes. "The Importance of Soil on Human Taphonomy and Management of Portuguese Public Cemeteries". Forensic Sciences (2022): https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci2040047.
    10.3390/forensicsci2040047
  6. Bessa, A.. "Forensic anthropology: Theoretical framework and scientific basis". Antropologia Portuguesa 37 (2020): 179-181. http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/2182-7982_37_8.
    10.14195/2182-7982_37_8
  7. Bessa, A.; Navega, D.; Ferreira, M. T.; Cunha, E.. "Finding what is missing: Three-dimensional coordinates estimation for ancestry assessment through geometric morphometrics". La Revue de Médecine Légale 8 (4) (2017): 190-190.
    Published
  8. Bessa, A.. "Finding what is missing: Three-dimensional coordinates estimation for ancestry assessment through geometric morphometrics". Revue de Medecine Legale (2017):
    10.1016/j.medleg.2017.10.031
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. Bessa, A. "A morfometria geométrica e a ancestralidade: estimativa em indivíduos da Coleção de Esqueletos Identificados do Século XXI da Universidade de Coimbra". Master, 2017.
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2023/08 Double standards: Ethics of anatomical donation before and after death 29th European Association of Archaeologists
European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) (Belfast, Ireland)
2023/03 Among bodies: Reflections on Portuguese cemeterial exhumations post-pandemic ESCMID postgraduate education online course “What can forensic medicine teach us for the management of pandemics?”
ESCMID & Spanish Society of Forensic Pathology (SEPAF)
2022/09 An interdisciplinary study on the mummified and skeletonized human remains from three Portuguese cemeteries (19th-21st centuries) X World Congress on Mummy Studies
Eurac Research (Bolzano, Italy)
2022/04 A preliminary study on five exhumed bodies and their burial graves from the Cemetery of Prado do Repouso (Porto, Portugal) 5th International Congress of the Portuguese Association of Forensic Sciences
Associação Portuguesa de Ciências Forenses (APCF) (Porto, Portugal)
2019/09 The mummy returns: bringing to life spontaneous human mummification in forensic scenarios FASE One-day Symposium: Biomechanics
Forensic Anthropology Society of Europe (Belgium)
2018/12 A preliminar paleopathological account on the mummified and skeletonized remains from the Capuchin church of Santa Lucia del Mela, Italy (17th - 19th centuries) VI Portuguese Meeting of Paleopathology
CIAS (Coimbra, Portugal)
2017/11 Errare humanum est? A importância da análise estatística na estimativa da ancestralidade 16th Congress of the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences
Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses (Coimbra, Portugal)

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role) 		Institution / Organization
2023/08 - 2023/09 Session "From what things are to what things ought to be: Ethical concerns on archaeological and forensic human remains" - 29th European Association of Archaeologists Annual Meeting in Belfast (Northern Ireland) (2023/08 - 2023/09)
Other
2016/09 - 2016/09 Basic Workshop in Forensic Anthropology (2016/09 - 2016/09)
Workshop (Member of the Organising Committee)
 Forensic Anthropology Society of Europe, Switzerland
2014/05 - 2014/05 Lecture "Forensic Sciences" (2014/05 - 2014/05)
Seminar (Member of the Organising Committee)
 Universidade do Porto Núcleo de Estudantes de Biologia, Portugal
2014/03 - 2014/03 Workshop "Statistics in Biology" (2014/03 - 2014/03)
Workshop (Member of the Organising Committee)
 Universidade do Porto Núcleo de Estudantes de Biologia, Portugal
2013/12 - 2013/12 Lecture "Genetics and Skin Colour Evolution in the Human Species: Separating Biology from Social Stereotypes" (2013/12 - 2013/12)
Seminar (Member of the Organising Committee)
 Universidade do Porto Núcleo de Estudantes de Biologia, Portugal
2013/12 - 2013/12 Lecture "Human Enhancement" (2013/12 - 2013/12)
Seminar (Member of the Organising Committee)
 Universidade do Porto Núcleo de Estudantes de Biologia, Portugal

Association member

Society Organization name Role
2016 - Current Centre for Functional Ecology Member
2013/09 - 2014/10 Núcleo de Estudantes de Biologia da Universidade do Porto Secretary of the General Assembly

Committee member

Activity description
Role 		Institution / Organization
2016/09 - 2016/09 Member of the Organising Committee of the Forensic Anthropology Society of Europe Basic Workshop in Forensic Anthropology
Member
 Forensic Anthropology Society of Europe, Switzerland

Interview (newspaper / magazine)

Activity description Newspaper / Forum
2023/04 Interview "L’étrange affaire... des corps qui ne se décomposent pas" Science & Vie
2022/11 Interview "Mumificação natural cresce em cemitérios nacionais, diz investigadora Universidade de Coimbra" DN/LUSA
2022/11 Interview "Dead bodies are randomly mummifying in Portugal, baffling scientists and sparking a crisis in its graveyards" Insider

Interview (tv / radio show)

Program Topic
2018/10 - 2018/10 Participation in the series "The Beautiful Dead" by BBC Reel Sicilian Religious Mummies
Distinctions

Title

2021 2nd Place University of Coimbra Three-minute Thesis Competition
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Other distinction

2024 Honorable mention
Associação Portuguesa de Antropologia, Portugal