Forensic Science: Not for the Faint of Heart

There are two kind of people in this world: those who have the stomach for just about anything, and those who faint when they see a needle or a tiny speck of blood. Those that fall into the latter group may have a hard time working as a forensic scientist, as the field involves getting their hands dirty (literally) as they examine things like stomach contents, blood spatter, and insect development. High schoolers who fall into the former category and are interested in studying forensic science may enjoy attending a hands-on activity related to the field – a forensic science pre-college summer program at Dean College.

So, let’s explore what diving into a forensic science program entails.

Studying Blood Spatter

Blood spatter is the science of studying the patterns made by spraying blood. By understanding how things fall, as well as the color and size of the drops, a forensic scientist can determine where the victim was standing or sitting when they were attacked. This helps recreate the crime scene, making it easier to figure out who the perpetrators may be. At the Dean College pre-college summer program in forensics, students will study this part of the science, as well as the others listed here.

Taking Fingerprints

When it comes to forensics, fingerprints might be the least stomach-turning thing to learn about, although they are no less messy. There are ways to take fingerprints from a person using either ink or digital scanners, as well as many methods to dust for them.

Examining Stomach Contents

Going over the contents of the victim’s stomach can be as disturbing as it sounds for those who have a sensitive gag-reflex. For the rest, it’s just another useful forensic tool – one that can help the detectives figure out “who did it.” After all, those stomach contents show what the person had for their last meal, as well as any medications that they took that didn’t have a chance to dissolve. It can really help determine a time and cause of death.

Checking Insect Development

Speaking of determining time of death, insects play a role as well. There are some that flock to the body of a deceased person, and examining them (the insects, of course) can help forensic scientists figure out where the person was, how long they were dead before discovered, and other important factors.

Learning About Blood Typing

Not only is blood spatter important, but so is matching that spatter to the blood of the victim. By examining the different types of blood present at a crime scene, scientists can determine whether or not there was more than one victim, or if the blood belonged to the criminal as well.

Going Over Trace Analysis

Finally, there’s trace analysis. Like fingerprints, this isn’t always messy and stomach-turning, as it involves examining a crime scene for things like fallen hairs and fibers, gathering microscopic bits of pollen, and more. Everything involved in helping learn more about the crime is covered in lessons and lab work about trace analysis during our pre-college summer programs.

As you can see, while forensic science isn’t for the faint of heart, it’s definitely a field that many find extremely interesting and fulfilling. Interested in learning more? Request more info, today.