Forensic Science

Should you teach your students?

Why Teach Forensics?

• Fun• Interesting• Build Up Your Science Program• Involve the Community • Actual Applications of Science

– Biology– Chemistry– Physics– Psychology– Law

Forensics is Fun

• Fun for the teacher

• Fun for the students

• Fun for the community

Forensics is Interesting• Currently the hottest topic

• Documentaries on every education channel

• CSI’s every day of the week

Build Up Your Science Program

• Increase the number of students taking science

• Nearly 60% of the students at my school will choose to take the class

• Use as a “Gateway Class”

• Increased interest in lessons

Involve the Community

• Police Departments

• Sheriff’s Department • Coroners Office

• Pharmacists

• Social Services

• Self-Defense Specialists

Applications in Biology

• Soil & Plants

• Hair & Fibers

• Anatomy

• DNA

• Blood, Semen, & Saliva

Applications in Chemistry

• Drugs & Poisons• Paint Samples• Ink• Substance Composition• Explosives• Accelerants• Reagents (Fingerprints, bodily fluids,

identification of unknown substances)

Applications in Physics

• Tool marks

• Ballistics

• Blast Patterns

• Hard body interactions (automobile accidents)

• Blast Patterns

• Impacts

Applications in Psychology

• Profiling

• Human Nature

• Sociology

• Questioning

• Statistical Analysis

Applications of Law

• Judicial System

• Gun Laws

• Juries

• Search and Seizures

• Child Protection