Embedded Files
"I found the forensics day activities to be incredibly interesting and fun, where I was able to experience the ins and outs of working around a crime scene. At first, when I walked into the room, I was quite taken aback by the presence of ‘Doug’ a mannequin prop who was lying in a pool of blood surrounded by hidden clues that unfolded a dark story. The forensics team walked us through multiple different scenarios as-well as activities that helped us figure out who the culprit was, via analyzing collected data such as footprints and DNA samples. My favorite part was interpreting the hidden fingerprint evidence, where I transferred the prints onto a sheet of paper to match up potential suspects. Overall this experience has been an amazing opportunity and I learnt a lot of new things from the forensics team ."
Monday 22 May began with much anticipation as students gathered in S4 for their chance to experience real forensics at work.
Each session opened with an introduction from Tom on how forensics really works as opposed to Hollywood’s version as seen on CSI and other such shows.
Myth No. 1 dispelled: no, the crime is very rarely solved in 1 hr.
Myth No. 2 dispelled: no, the forensics scientists do not solve the crime, they find the evidence and the detectives work out who did it.
Myth No. 3 dispelled: detectives etc are not allowed to rush up to the crime scene, dropping various hairs, skin and other foreign objects over the crime, contaminating it and making the evidence gathered unreliable. Everyone entering the scene must be fully dressed in PPE from head to foot.
This led us into the investigation of the crime scene set up in the back of S4. A dead body, Doug, money and jewelry across the floor, blood smears on the wall and overturned tables.
Obviously something has happened, but what and who?
Enter the forensic scientists, students from senior biology and chemistry, along with Tom and Allie, to guide us through the correct procedures.
Footprints were caste, rubbed and compared. The important parts were not what was on the sole of the shoe but what had over time been removed due to general wear and tear. This makes our footprints unique.
Blood samples were then tested for DNA and these were compared using 10 - 25 different marker points. Only a few were needed to make a match.
The last stage was to lift fingerprints from a cup. The cup was brushed with fingerprint powder, definitely a case of less being better. The powder was lifted using tape, without smearing the fingerprints or adding our own. These were then compared using the loops, whorls and arches that are unique to all of us. Did you know that even identical twins have unique fingerprints, yes, our fingerprints form while we are still in the womb and are formed due our position and how much space we have, different for each growing child.
The last step was to declare that Callum Laffar was the guilty party.
All in, an interesting time for all.
"I enjoyed all of it, especially the data analysis where we found out who "committed the crime" ."
"I really enjoyed the dusting and lifting of fingerprints and making the mould of the footprint. I only knew a bit about fingerprint dusting, so everything was new to me! It was really well presented and I thoroughly enjoyed myself."
"It was allgood, a real eye opener on what happens behind the scenes. Thankyou for the shared knowledge."
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