Monday, August 19, 2024 - Friday, August 23, 2024

9:30am* – 3:00 pm PDT
*first session starts at 10 am daily
This schedule is subject to change.

Day 1: To learn what it means to be a forensic scientist, what critical thinking tools are involved and the importance of building evidence against a case so it will hold up in court by using proper tools for initial forensic investigation.

Day 2: To understand tools used to compare sequences of DNA¹ and how they can tie suspects and victims together. Microscopic analysis of fibres found on the scene and isolation of microbes from soil sample.

Day 3: To understand the principles of ELISA² and Blood Typing and their use in helping with toxicology reports and identifying evidence against suspects.

Day 4: To use PCR³ to identify unique sequences in suspects and operate a family tree to understand relationships between suspects and victims.

Day 5: To regroup and compare video and data collected on previous days to identify a suspect and form a cohesive argument that supports their decision; they should be able to justify their accusations with evidence and present their conclusions to the "court" (other attendees).

1 DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid is a self-replicating material that is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.

2 ELISA stands for enzyme-linked immunoassay. It is a commonly used laboratory test to detect antibodies in the blood. An antibody is a protein produced by the body's immune system when it detects harmful substances, called antigens.

3  PCR stands for polymerase chain reaction, which is a method widely used to make millions to billions of copies of a specific DNA sample rapidly, allowing scientists to amplify a very small sample of DNA sufficiently to enable detailed study.