NJIT Hosts NJ's First Forensic Science Education Conference
While shows such as CSI and Dexter have made the world of forensic science a hit on television, the field is also quickly become a hit in classrooms as well, evidenced by the recent turnout at NJIT for the first-ever Forensic Science Education Conference held in New Jersey.
Teachers from around the U.S. recently convened to explore new ways to engage their students in STEM learning through the lens of forensic science at the conference, hosted Jun. 27-29 through a collaboration between NJIT’s Center for Pre-college Programs (CPCP), College of Science and Liberal Arts (CSLA) and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS).
“As educators, you're aware that forensic science is an incredible platform to teach many of the foundational principles and applications of STEM that are so critical to the education of our students and their future,” said CSLA Dean Kevin Belfield in his welcome message, who led the launch of New Jersey’s first forensic science degree program at NJIT in 2018.
Serving the final week of his tenure as NJIT President, Joel S. Bloom introduced the conference’s day-one keynote speaker, acting NJ Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who addressed the evolving field and need for forensic professionals throughout the state.
“The percentage of STEM professionals in this state who have graduated from NJIT is extraordinary. … I want to thank President Bloom for his service to this state and all the teachers here today,” said Platkin.
Attorney General Matthew Platkin
“Forensic science is central to what we do and think about because it's such an emerging field that is constantly changing with new technology,” said Platkin, noting that New Jersey State Police have been involved a growing number of forensic cases over the past year — including nearly 3,000 serology cases, 20,000 drug cases, 3,350 toxicology cases and over 2,800 DNA cases, while providing over 1,200 CODIS hit notification letters. “For the educators in the room, it is special to be involved in … these are great careers.”
Other notable guest speakers included AAFS President-elect Ken Williams and Rodney Roberts, a Newark native now working with the Innocence Project, who recounted his experiences being exonerated after spending 18 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. DNA testing ultimately proved his innocence.
Roberts’ talk drew an emotional response from the audience, particularly local educators, some who use the case to teach students about wrongful convictions.
Roberts joined by Innocence Project Sr. Policy Advisor Sarah Chu
“I didn’t know these teachers and their students were reading my case … [the response] was humbling,” said Roberts. “I believe that coming to NJIT and speaking elsewhere, I can fight injustices in the system and help shape the future. If I could go to every classroom in this city, I would.”
Teaching Tomorrow’s Forensic Scientists
Over three days, NJIT faculty and guest forensic experts led attendees through nearly 20 break-out sessions at the university’s dedicated forensic lab and mock crime scene environments around campus — covering everything from how to teach students about fingerprint recovery, bloodstain pattern analysis and DNA typing, to the latest iPhone apps to use for documenting a crime scene.
“As educators, it is our job to inspire students to consider forensic science as a career, but at the same time, prepare them to be highly-skilled professionals and make them aware of the increased scrutiny they will face in the judicial system,” said NJIT’s Forensic Science Program Director David Fisher.
From the campus parking garage, NJIT’s new Forensic Science Professor of Practice and former Somerset County forensic investigator Kevin Parmelee showcases the university’s forensic car, where students learn how to reconstruct a shooting using affordable instruments bought online.
Inside NJIT’s new “Forensic House” where mock crime scenes are staged, teachers learn tips for analyzing and processing evidence as a CSI first responder.
(Left) Fisher leads a discussion on examining forged documents; (Right) NJIT forensic anthropologist Sara Zapico introduces teachers to forensic techniques used to identify bodies decades after death.
Teachers hailing from as far as Texas, Colorado and Virginia took in the packed schedule of events to develop new lessons and curricula centered around the ever-popular field.
“There aren’t many forensic science conferences for educators, especially in-person since the pandemic, so this was the perfect trip to make to help my students and better organize my lessons,” said Rebecca Utter from Haymarket VA, who has been overseeing the forensic science curriculum at Battlefield High School for the last six years. “I really enjoyed the crime scene reconstruction session … I even learned it’s better to teach my blood spatter lab before introducing my students to ballistics. I can’t wait to go back and teach them what I’ve been learning.”
Many of Newark’s forensic science educators were on-hand as well.
Enthusiasm for the topic in Newark schools has been growing over the past year alongside the arrival of NJIT’s Forensic Science Initiative (FSI), which involves a five-week summer program aimed at opening new pathways for the city’s high school seniors to be able to pursue a forensic science degree at NJIT. The summer program starts later this month.
“I feel like this event has been a great springboard to prepare us for what we're doing this summer with FSI and our kids,” said Dan Dufresne, a second-year biology teacher at Newark’s Malcolm X Shabazz High School, who will also be instructing nearly 20 students in the FSI program through a forensic science elective he’s teaching in the fall. “I’ve really been diving in and learning a lot these last few days … it’s all fascinating.”
“It's typically very challenging for school practitioners to take advantage of professional development opportunities outside of their district settings for a number of reasons; not the least of which is funding,” said Jacqueline Cusack, CPCP executive director. “When they do, it's incumbent upon us to make their experiences worthwhile through meaningful ‘hands-on, minds-on’ engagement in content areas to ultimately enhance their teaching methodology and stimulate student learning. That was the focus of this conference.”
