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Nu's Forensic Science Course Gives High Schoolers Lots of Chemistry, No TV

Posted on: Tuesday, 3 August 2004, 06:00 CDT

The introduction to forensic science at Niagara University, a three-week summer course for high school students, is a long way from the hit television show "CSI."

NU student Brooke Switala, a biochemistry major and a lab assistant for the course, said she thinks some students may be expecting something else.

"This is just a lot of chemistry. They don't show you on the show how much time it takes," said Switala.

As the students take notes on milligrams per deciliter and do some old-fashioned number crunching on low-tech calculators, instructor Marcy Marino, an assistant science professor, gives them insights into working with a sample solution.

As a few eyes begin to glaze over, she says of the chemical solution they were just working with, "It was a pretty purple color."

That was a light moment in an otherwise heavy class. This is not a dumbing down of chemistry.

Nancy McGlen, dean of arts and sciences, says these courses offer three college credits.

"It's pretty challenging, and I've had some positive feedback. Our faculty has been impressed with the level of skill of these high school students," said McGlen.

She said this is the second year of offering summer courses to high school students, and the program has expanded from two course offerings to four to include both art and math. She hopes to see the program continue to expand.

Marino said it was natural for her to turn to a job teaching chemistry -- she thinks chemistry is fun. Marino said she was inspired by her teacher when she attended Lewiston-Porter High School, because he made chemistry so interesting.

"Television is making people look at careers in (forensic) science, but they are getting the idea that it is very glamorous. It's a lot of tedious work. People who are working in the field either love the work or find it too much to handle," said Marino.

Marino also notes that forensic science is a much broader field than just the criminal work of biologists and chemists seen on a show like "CSI."

"Forensics is any application of science to law. Chemistry can be used to analyze wastewater or food to meet government regulations; and any type of science can be used, such as dentistry, engineering, geology or entomology. Any science can be applied with exploration done in a scientific way," said Marino.

All of the students attending the recent course offering had seen "CSI," and a few are considering entering law enforcement.

Matt Reele, a senior at Lewiston-Porter High School and an active participant in the Niagara County Sheriff's Department's Explorer program, said doing crime scene investigation with the sheriff's program sparked his interest to pursue a more advanced form of investigation.

"It's interesting. I can see what I might be in for later on," said Matt.

Joseph Slack, a senior at Niagara Catholic High School, admits that real life is a lot different from television.

"It's not that easy. It just doesn't happen. There's a systematic way to go through a room. No stone is left unturned, but it just won't happen," said Joseph.

"Yeah, and you don't get visions," said Cara Gabriele, a junior at Lewiston-Porter High School, referring to the way characters on the show pick up an object and then a possible scenario is played out.

e-mail: nfischer@buffnews.com

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