Work-shop Letter | Workshop Name | Workshop Description | Workshop Guide |
| A | Autopsy Analysis | Some of the best clues about a murder come from the corpse. Although they cannot talk, they can reveal a lot of information about the events that occurred before, during, and after a crime. In this workshop, students will observe first-hand what is involved in an autopsy. *Students wanting to participate in this workshop must accept our policy on cadaver viewing and use in an academic setting! | Robert McAfee |
| B | Blood Detection | If a criminal has cleaned the crime scene, how do we determine what has happened? Luminol is used to detect blood that is no longer visible to the naked eye (it glows) and provides valuable information when investigating potential locations of crimes. Other times, reddish substances need to be confirmed as blood using chemical tests. | Brad Elder |
| C | Drip, Drop, Spatter | Blood spatters can be used to determine the source of the blood, the blood source’s location at the crime scene, and the method (such as gun shot or stabbing) that produced the blood spatter pattern. These clues are important in recreating the crime scene and determining suspects, which all can lead to a successful investigation and criminal apprehension. | Russ Souchek |
| D | Hair, Blood, Spit: The DNA Fingerprint | What is a DNA fingerprint and what does it tell you? Students will identify exactly who was at the crime scene by producing a DNA fingerprint using gel electrophoresis and analyzing DNA patterns using a gel-doc system. This process will include determining what evidence collected contains DNA that can and cannot be analyzed for identification confirmation. | Kate Marley and Barb Clement |
| E | Nature’s Clues | How can we use entomology - the study of insects - to help us solve a crime? Students will investigate how bugs, especially maggots, and other natural elements can provide valuable information about a crime. Be prepared for a hands-on experience! | Heather York |
| F | Drug Detection | How do you know if a person’s health had anything to do with their death? Often times the medications a person is taking can tell you a lot about their life and death. Students will perform drug detection assays to rule out possible causes of death that could be due to a drug overdose or even poisoning. | Chemistry Faculty |
| G | Up in Smoke! | One type of evidence often found at a crime scene is powders or residues. A mysterious pile of ash has been found at this crime scene and forensic chemical analysis is needed. State-of-the-art analytical instrumentation and chemical analysis will be used to narrow the possible list of suspects by determining the type of ash and how it relates to the available suspects. | Chemistry Faculty |
| H | Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy | Molecules all vibrate at a unique frequency, which allows an IR instrument to confirm the identity of many unknown substances. Within a crime scene investigation laboratory, this is crucial in verifying evidence needed to solve the crime or secure suspects. | Chemistry Faculty |
| I | Arches, Loops, and Whorls. Oh My! | Patience and a keen eye are needed to determine who has left their fingerprints on various surfaces at a crime scene. Learn how to collect fingerprint evidence and distinguish between fingerprints that make us unique! | Nebraska State Patrol Fingerprinting Technician(s) |