Since 2005, Southern Oregon University's Chemistry Department has hosted an annual �Hands-On Forensics� workshop for regional high school and community college students.  During the workshop, participants are paired with undergraduate student mentors and tasked with solving a mock crime.  Using state-of-the-art instrumentation, students carry out a series of forensic chemistry experiments designed by SOU's chemistry faculty.  Additionally, attendees participate in a �Chemistry Quiz and Prize Show� hosted by SOU's ACS Student Affiliate Club.  These workshops provide participants an opportunity to experience chemistry at the college level and also serve to broaden their understanding of the techniques used in forensic analysis.  Although not the primary goal, these events have also provided a unique and successful recruiting method for the university and the department in particular.  This presentation will describe the design and implementation of these workshops as well as the mock crimes and experiments used to solve them.

Forensic chemistry as an outreach tool

248th National Meeting (2014)

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