With all the popular criminal investigation shows on television, most universities have seen an increase in interest of forensic science among students.  Many universities have started to offer a series of forensic courses because of this increased interest in college students in forensic science.  Students come into these types of courses with a media understanding of forensic science.  This sometimes results in students changing their viewpoint on what forensic science really is about.  An introductory forensic laboratory will aid the student in basic knowledge and understanding of the role of the forensic scientist in the criminal justice system.  Students will perform hands-on laboratory exercises to help them better understand how forensic evidence is analyzed.  All types of evidence would be analyzed at a basic level, including be not limited to, crime scene investigation, impression comparison, blood spatter, explosives, illicit drugs, and trace evidence examinations.  Current laboratory manuals are available and offer a more advanced examination of these types of evidence using instrumentation or needing to have an advanced knowledge of microscopy techniques.  Development of a more basic forensic laboratory exercises that are simple with no need of instrumental knowledge is needed.  This will satisfy the need for students to engage in a forensic laboratory learning how forensic scientists identify, characterize, individualize and compare evidence.  Students will not need to have background knowledge of chemistry and biology to enroll in the course.  All types of students will be able to participate in a basic general forensic science laboratory course and gain the same understanding and knowledge about forensic science.  During this presentation, experimental exercises will be explained in detail along with how the course was developed and background information on the type of students that enrolled in the course.

Investigating forensic science laboratory

246th National Meeting (2013)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.