Dr Dilys Berman, a pollen expert from the University of Cape Town’s Lung Institute, spends a lot of time on the roof. She’s collecting pollen for a huge research project.

But, says Berman, the study of pollen is not just for air sampling, soil analysis and allergy studies. It’s also a vital part of crime-busting because in the world of forensic science, it is as accurate as it comes. However, the world has a dire shortage of forensic palynologists (pollen fundis)...