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A good Forensics class can get kids of all types interested in science, but this can only work when the students have access to the right resources. Many of the materials needed to run successful Forensics labs can be made with a little DIY ingenuity. However, there are many times when trying to get kids hands-on lab experience that insufficient lab resources can really stand in the way. What I am hoping for are specific tools and materials that would directly impact the success and frequency of hands-on scientific engagement. For example, although the class has compound microscopes to use, many of my students have no real experience with microscopy, and this always becomes a hindrance to many of the labs that we do. With a digital microscope, it would be much easier to model for students what types of things they should be looking for during labs to maximize their chances of successful investigation when they are investigating on their own. Similarly, pre-made forensics slides would also be a useful tool for showing students idealized samples of what they should be finding. Together, these tools would allow students to view a projected exemplars of a well-mounted forensics slide for when they mount hair/textile/tissue samples on their own. The forensic science class teaches kids STEM in a somewhat different sort of way. However, as with any science class, the engagement is always limited by supplies. The other materials listed include Barrier Filter Goggles for the Bluelights that we already have, insect ID cards for a more visual way of teaching kids about forensic entomology, and Inert Display Cartridges in order to instruct students more effectively on forensics related to firearms and ballistics. Each of these supplies will have an integral role within the success of one or many Forensics labs.
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