Introduction to Forensics

According to forensic scientist Claude Roux, we live in a time where most professions favor individuals who are multi-skilled, flexible, and who have the ability to adapt to rapid changes. The science of forensics is a perfect example of a discipline that is undergoing rapid changes in light of world events and technological advances. Over the past few decades, forensic science has become increasingly popular, not just in the United States, but worldwide. Many people enjoy solving problems and puzzles, and thus could be called "natural detectives." Using forensics allows instructors to integrate many different science disciplines (such as biology, chemistry, physics, earth sciences, and technology to name a few) in an applied setting, making the practical usefulness of the sciences clearer to students.

In our camp, students will be introduced to crime scene procedures such as sketching and photography, evidence collection techniques, laboratory safety, data analysis, microscopy of hair samples, chromatographic techniques, pH techniques, and fingerprint analysis. After examining evidence collected at the scene of an art theft, students will make a case based on their evidence to indict a suspect.