This program has been canceled due to lack of participation.
Please check back for information on the 2011 offering.
Follow the Evidence...
The Forensic Science Summer Workshop is designed for middle and high school teachers as well as science teachers. Some science experience is required — please contact us if you're unsure if your background matches the curriculum of this course.
Descriptions of material to be included in the workshop:
Analysis and Identification of Hair:
Various types of physical evidence are encountered during the investigation of a crime. One of the most common types of evidence is hair. Animal and human hairs are often encountered
during the process of a criminal investigation. In these cases it becomes necessary to identify and distinguish animal hairs from human hairs. Identification of hairs can establish
physical contact between a victim and a suspect and the contact of both with the crime scene. Such evidence can help the investigation and establish the identity of the donor. The
workshop will show the attendees how to distinguish human hairs from animal hairs by microscopic analysis. They can also learn to distinguish various types of human hairs and
determine their conditions, using such treatments as dye, etc.
Analysis and Identification of Blood:
Blood is one of the most common body fluids encountered in violent crime cases. It may be detected as minute debris under fingernails or as a bloodstain on clothing or other
substrate. Teachers attending this workshop can become familiar with presumptive tests to determine the possible presence of blood. They can then learn how to confirm the presence of
blood, distinguish human blood from animal blood, and even distinguish ferret blood (this animal’s blood reacts similarly to human blood) from that of humans.
Analysis and Identification of Saliva:
Often encountered in crime scenes such as burglary, saliva can be found on cigarette butts, bottles, straws, and soda cans used by suspects. Utensils or partially-eaten
food can be used to detect the presence of saliva for eventual DNA analysis. When a victim is missing, reference samples can be obtained from saliva on a
toothbrush. The teachers can learn to detect the presence of saliva from several items such as a toothbrush, dental floss, soda can, straw, or cigarette butt. Several
methods will be used to detect saliva, and the participants can learn to confirm the presence of human saliva on these items.
Analysis and Identification of Urine:
Burglars and other suspects often urinate outside or inside the homes of their victims. Although it is not possible to distinguish human urine from animal urine at this time, various
methods are available for the detection of urine stains. The teachers in this workshop will conduct hands-on experiments to analyze urine stains, using at least three methods.
DNA Analysis:
The attendees can learn how to extract DNA using manual and robotic methods. While the allotted time will not permit them to analyze DNA from various substances, the workshop will
allow them to use simple methods to obtain DNA from such items as fingernails and cigarette butts.
Space is limited to 16 participants.
program of Penn State's Eberly College of Science
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