WHILE most school students spent their holidays relaxing, 90 bright young boys and girls from 32 different state and independent schools immersed themselves in the 16th annual Forensic Science Camp at The Armidale School during the first week of the holidays.
Callum Blake from Hunter Valley Grammar School and Tim Glass from Sydney Grammar School were among those attending what is acknowledged as a leading academic enrichment opportunity for gifted and talented students in Year 8 (NSW) and Year 9 (Queensland).
Participants were divided into groups and then solved fictitious felonies using a range of forensic techniques, including microscopy, chromatography, fingerprint analysis, cryptography and general science. They analysed the evidence, identified and interviewed the suspects, ordered medical and scientific tests and searched criminal databases.
Callum’s group had to investigate the suspicious death of a woman who broke into houses and stole valuables, leaving behind a pawn piece from a chessboard every time.
“It helped me develop more skills in scientific testing and deductive reasoning. I learnt how to fingerprint on any surface, how to test something for blood, how to distinguish different fibres and how to analyse different soil samples. I also learnt that binary is extremely hard to decipher, but when you do, the feeling of triumph is great,” he said.
Students at this year’s camp came from as far as Ballarat and the Sunshine Coast, including leading academic schools such as Sydney Girls’ and Sydney Boys’ High and Sydney Grammar School.
“It’s a really great, unique hands on experience,” said Tim Glass from Sydney Grammar School.
“You’re actually playing with evidence, there’s all sorts of things to do such as finger printing, analysing soil, it’s a really great opportunity.
The camp is largely run by older students who have previously taken part – some developing the crime scenarios, some managing the event itself.
Camp deputy director Angus Lloyd, a TAS student, said the student-led event was an incredible opportunity.
“The groups are given physical evidence, get to request interviews, undertake a lot of tests and basically solving a crime just like in real life.”
