DURING the school holidays, four Year 8 students from All Saints’ College attended The Armidale School to participate in the 2016 Forensic Science Camp.
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Matilda Whittaker, Abby Dinger, Samantha Porter and Jade Newham were selected for the program after submit a proposal on why they wanted to attend the camp.
Their applications included their resume and grades, as well as a letter of endorsement from their science teachers.
The camp has been running for 22 years and such has been its success that each year it regularly attracts more than 80 bright Year 8 and 9 students from government and independent schools all over Australia.
The students were divided into groups of four detectives and given the task of solving fictitious felonies using a range of forensic techniques, including microscopy, chromatography, fingerprint analysis, cryptography and general science.
Students analysed the evidence, identified and interviewed the suspects, ordered medical and scientific tests and searched criminal databases.
On the final day of the camp, a local magistrate conducted a “court case” where the teams were given the chance to present their evidence at a committal hearing.
The scenarios were developed by “camp controllers”, former participants who now lead the camp.
Scenarios used procedures including blood typing, fiber testing and soil analyses to solve a range of crimes, from theft and kidnapping to vandalism and murder.
Participants developed skills in logic and organisation using technology and forensic science – and it was a whole lot of fun.
