David Foran wants high school teachers to get excited about forensic science.
Foran, associate professor and director of the Forensic Science Program at MSU, put together MSU’s first Forensic Science Educational Conference for high school teachers, which will continue through Thursday in Holmes Hall.
Set up in lecture-lab format, the conference includes techniques for high school science teachers who already teach forensic science or will begin teaching the course.
“It’s a lot of hands-on time for teachers,” Foran said. “It will help them add some new ideas.”
The increasing demand for forensic science courses in Michigan schools inspired the conference, Foran said.
“There have been a few (conferences) in other states, but there’s never been one in Michigan before,” he said
About 65 teachers from across the nation arrived Monday morning to participate in the conference, where MSU professors and Michigan State Police are teaching methods of blood-splatter analysis, crime scene processing, and DNA typing.
Participants had the option of staying in the dorms or nearby hotels throughout the week.
Chris Brosky, who teaches forensic science at Clarkston High School, said the only prerequisite to enroll in such a course will be a background in chemistry.
“It’s tons of chem lab,” Brosky said. “But we’ll make as many sections as needed.”
Forensic science demands a strong grip on physics and biology, Foran said.
Teaching high schoolers that forensic science isn’t as glamorous as it’s made out to be on shows like “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” is important, Brosky said.
“We try to tell them that it’s not at all what they see on TV,” Brosky said. “You don’t pull up in a Hummer, you don’t walk out there in high heels.”
Participating teachers are keeping money issues in mind. Foran said teachers across the nation who wish to teach forensic science are finding alternative methods for coming up with classroom supplies because of tight budgets in schools.
“Sometimes forensic science has to be low-tech,” he said.
Foran recommends teachers create mock-crime scenes with old food cans and other broken items.
“There is a person here who teaches seven forensic science courses on a budget of $300,” he said. “They’ll hit up junkyards for materials or find stuff around the house.”
Jim Preston, a biology teacher who will teach a new forensic science course at Williamston High School this fall, said learning how to teach forensic science with less money is essential.
“When I was told I could have this forensic science course, but there would be limited funds available, I knew I’d be doing it on a shoestring basis,” said Preston, who taught a forensic science lab unit to high schoolers a few years ago.
“Learning how to teach it on a limited budget is definitely appealing.”
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Whether or not high schoolers who continue on the forensic science path or be able to get a job in Michigan depends on state budget cuts, Foran said.
“There will be hiring streaks,” he said. “Crime labs in Wisconsin hired 20 people all at once last year, but this year, the Michigan State Police may only hire one DNA person.”
“My major goal is to keep kids interested in sciences after they’ve taken the required science classes,” Foran said.
