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Whodunnit? Tees teens transform into detectives

Over 60 teenagers from across the region came to the University to become amateur sleuths.

The year nine (aged 13 to 14) pupils from across the Tees Valley and North Yorkshire took part in a Forensic Awareness Day. The pupils worked with 15 final year º£½ÇÖ±²¥ Forensic students and academics from the School of Science &Technology to help identify mock murder suspects amongst their classmates.

They were briefed in advance about a ‘murder’ and then divided into groups of four to follow staged clues set in our forensic and vehicle laboratories.

They:

• used fingerprint analysis
• explored blood pattern analysis
• examined footwear impressions and fibres
• completed a session on DNA evidence.

Angela Wood, Schools & Colleges Partnerships Assistant (pre-16) said: 'The Forensics team has developed an activity that can raise the pupils’ awareness of science in a fun way and hopefully interest them in the subject. We’re hoping to roll this out to other schools in 2010.'

Jordan Blyth, 13, from Newlands School F.C.J., Middlesbrough said: 'The day was a big change from what I’m used to, something you have to leave school for. Some of it was quite entertaining. I’ve always thought of being a scientist and today I’ve learned about basic forensics, such as subtle differences in fibres.'

Jade Rochford, 13, from Thornaby Community College, said: 'It’s been good fun getting to know about the theories and I’d like to work in forensics when I’m older. I watch a lot of the CSI programmes with my Mam, we try and predict the murderer and see who’s got it right.'

This kind of interactive learning is just unbeatable

Theresa Holcroft, Gifted and Talented and Aim Higher Co-ordinator at Newlands School F.C.J., added: 'The kids have got so much out of this, it’s fantastic and they’re so engaged with the work. Getting the kids out of the classroom into this kind of interactive learning is just unbeatable.'

At the end of the day, the pupils delivered their verdicts on the culprits’ identities based on the day’s evidence, and also completed a quiz on the clues, with the two highest scorers receiving a prize of a digital camera. In addition, teachers from William Howard School in Cumbria observed the day’s activities, to help their preparations for teaching forensics as part of GCSE level Science.

The forensic awareness activity was organised as part of the Meteor Programme STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Integrated Education Strategy. This is funded by One NorthEast, aimed at helping promote awareness of science, technology, engineering and mathematics with young people in the local area.

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