An interdisciplinary undergraduate "Science of Forensics" course

CHED 1683

Sarjit Kaur, sakaur@vassar.edu, Department of Chemistry, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604-0287 and David Jemiolo, Biology, Vassar College.
Following an NSF forensics workshop at Williams College, an interdisciplinary course was developed with a focus on teaching scientific concepts and analytical methods in investigating forensics evidence. The course was directed towards the sophomore level to show students early in their academic study how science is applied to real-life problem solving. The course incorporated laboratory exercises from different disciplines to complement lectures, and covered DNA profiling, entomology, drug screens, enzymatic kinetics, forensic anthropology, paint and hair analysis, and inorganic and organic analyses. The course was team taught, and included a forensic laboratory tour and several case studies, two being capstone exercises. Several forensics experts were invited as guest speakers, and included a medical examiner, crime investigator, FBI agent, state trooper, forensics psychologist and a resident forensic linguist. Another forensics course that was more focused on chemistry was taught to community college students for the past three summers.
 

Center for Workshops in the Chemical Sciences (CWCS)
8:30 AM-11:55 AM, Wednesday, March 28, 2007 McCormick Place North -- Room N230B, Level 2, Oral

Division of Chemical Education

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007