Forensic science graduate students and faculty hosted a crime scene investigation event for talented and gifted middle school students from Lawrence County, Ohio, Thursday at Marshall University’s Crime Scene House.
About 60 seventh- and eighth-grade students, staff and teachers from South Point, Rock Hill and Symmes Valley middle schools attended the “CSI Huntington” event.
Students became crime scene investigators for a day to solve a mock murder case, in which they learned about forensic science investigative techniques.
Evidence from the mock crime scene was placed throughout the house. Students received lectures and demonstrations as well as participated in hands-on activities to solve the case. Topics included DNA analysis, latent print identification, AFIX (a fingerprinting system), questioned document instrumentation, drug testing, blood spatter analysis, toolmark examination, crime scene investigation and digital forensics examination.
Julie Walters, student services coordinator for the Lawrence County Education Service Center in Lawrence County, Ohio, said she would recommend CSI Huntington to other teachers, administrators and students.
Dr. Pamela Staton, professor of forensic science in the graduate program, is the faculty advisor for the “CSI Huntington” events. “CSI Huntington is a forensic science program that seeks to expose students and teachers to various career opportunities especially in the areas of science, technology and mathematics, which includes forensic science,” she said.
The event was presented by Master’s United Forensic Identification Association (MUFIA), a Marshall University student organization composed of forensic science graduate students in the nationally recognized master’s degree program. Proceeds from the outreach activity will go towards professional travel to national meetings such as the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
Teachers who are interested in scheduling a “CSI Huntington” workshop should contact Staton at 304-691-8962 for more information. Workshops also are available to other groups upon request.