An Ethnography of Forensic Science: Practices in the Forensic Laboratories of New Zealand is based on a laboratory study conducted by Suzuki at the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) in New Zealand. The research---part of her doctorate---was done between August 2010 and March 2012 and used participant observation, interviews, and participation in various meetings and in training provided to researchers at the ESR. Her study focuses on three questions: (a) How is forensic research performed in reality? (b) What problems of research processes exist in such laboratories? (c) How is the system of forensic science established? The book consists of eight chapters. In chapter 1, Suzuki gives the background to her study of forensic science, explaining some special features of the field that make it an appropriate subject of her laboratory study. An important reason that she gives is that it is still a relatively minor topic in science and technology studies. Chapter 2 then describes the details of the laboratory that she studied (the ESR), including its historical background and current structure. She also describes how her ethnographical laboratory study was conducted.
