What is a Forensic Scientist?
A forensic scientist helps explain the evidence found at crime scenes to juries, lawyers, and judges. Forensic scientists may study skeletons, people's behavior, or even their handwriting. Sometimes forensic scientists work outside the courtroom. For instance, they may travel to faraway places to study ancient human remains. This helps people learn more about history.
What are you working on now?
I am traveling to a country in Central America called Belize. There, I will study bones and other remains of an ancient people called the Maya, who lived between 1,000 and 1,700 years ago. I will examine DNA (a chemical code that contains information about your body, like your eye color or height) from the remains. The DNA will tell me how the Maya were related to each other. This information can help us learn more about Maya history and society.
What's the best part of your job?
My work is like putting together a puzzle. Forensic scientists can help solve crimes by examining fingerprints and hairs left at crime scenes. Everybody has a different set of fingerprints. By identifying the fingerprints, we can help determine who committed a crime.
What's the worst part of your job?
It can be difficult to solve a puzzle when I don't have much information. If I only have a small bone fragment, it can be hard to remove a DNA sample from it.
What YOU need:
NECESSARY SKILLS: A college degree in science, with plenty of life science and chemistry. Good note-taking, writing, and speaking skills, and lots of curiosity!
HOW TO GET STARTED NOW: Study hard in science class and practice public speaking and debate.
WHAT YOU CAN EARN: $45,000-$150,000
WHERE YOU CAN WORK: FBI, hospitals, universities
Do YOU Have What It Takes?
Put your forensic science skills to the test! Humans have many types of fingerprint patterns. The three major patterns are whorl, arch, and loop. Do you have any of these patterns? Hold a magnifying glass to your thumb to find out.
Source: Scholastic SuperScience, Sep2006
What are you working on now?
I am traveling to a country in Central America called Belize. There, I will study bones and other remains of an ancient people called the Maya, who lived between 1,000 and 1,700 years ago. I will examine DNA (a chemical code that contains information about your body, like your eye color or height) from the remains. The DNA will tell me how the Maya were related to each other. This information can help us learn more about Maya history and society.
What's the best part of your job?
My work is like putting together a puzzle. Forensic scientists can help solve crimes by examining fingerprints and hairs left at crime scenes. Everybody has a different set of fingerprints. By identifying the fingerprints, we can help determine who committed a crime.
What's the worst part of your job?
It can be difficult to solve a puzzle when I don't have much information. If I only have a small bone fragment, it can be hard to remove a DNA sample from it.
What YOU need:
NECESSARY SKILLS: A college degree in science, with plenty of life science and chemistry. Good note-taking, writing, and speaking skills, and lots of curiosity!
HOW TO GET STARTED NOW: Study hard in science class and practice public speaking and debate.
WHAT YOU CAN EARN: $45,000-$150,000
WHERE YOU CAN WORK: FBI, hospitals, universities
Do YOU Have What It Takes?
Put your forensic science skills to the test! Humans have many types of fingerprint patterns. The three major patterns are whorl, arch, and loop. Do you have any of these patterns? Hold a magnifying glass to your thumb to find out.
Source: Scholastic SuperScience, Sep2006
posted by James at 10:06 AM
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