The human puzzle solver, Claude Roux shares his life in forensic science. Picture supplied

When Claude Patrick Roux was a student, he was torn between a love for science and a fascination with criminal law.

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Long before television popularised the field, he was captivated by the same things that drew millions to classic mystery literature. "Before television, people were fascinated by crime novels - Sherlock Holmes, Patricia Cornwell, and then there was the CSI boom series," Professor Roux said.

That curiosity culminated in a national recognition for the Engadine resident, who has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his distinguished service to forensic science, technological development, law enforcement, ethics, and tertiary education.

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Distinguished Professor was educated in the top forensic school in Switzerland. His career in Australia began with the University of Technology, Sydney. "It had just started a forensic science program in 1994 and they needed someone with a specialised expertise to help them lead it. I helped reshape the course," Professor Roux said.

While his career includes serving as president of the International Association of Forensic Sciences and Education and the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society, his deepest satisfaction comes from teaching and practical breakthroughs.

A fascination with crime led to a lifetime of service and honour for Claude Roux. Picture supplied

"I'm most proud of the generation of new graduates that have grown into new professionals in law enforcement, and I inspired them," he said. "Also helping the police develop new methods for fingerprint detection and researching the different type of traces of evidence."

His dedication to research was spotlighted in one of Sydney's most prominent true-crime cases: assisting police with solving the 1995 murder of 21-year-old university student Frances Daniela Tizzone. With almost no initial physical evidence at the scene, it was persistent forensic work on microfibres-specifically, coarse, distinct polyester fibres recovered from the soles of the victim's feet-that became the crucial link to tracking her killer. "Doing such research, you feel you have done something great for society," Professor Roux said.

Even after a lifetime of accolades, including a recent 2026 award from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and a UTS research medal, his passion for the work remains undiminished. "What's exciting in the field is that there is always something new," he said. "You have to have curiosity and an inquiring mind because you never really completely know what's around the corner and you have to put together pieces of a puzzle."