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Mystery science fun at Cap U

COLLECTING DNA samples, examining blood splatter and investigating a murder - no, this is not a recap of Thursday night's episode of CSI; these are the activities that high school students are performing at Genome B.C.'s Geneskool summer camp.

COLLECTING DNA samples, examining blood splatter and investigating a murder - no, this is not a recap of Thursday night's episode of CSI; these are the activities that high school students are performing at Genome B.C.'s Geneskool summer camp.

From Aug. 15-19, 16 high school students from across the Lower Mainland converged at Capilano University to study forensics and genetics.

Throughout the course of the week the students implemented forensic techniques and studied genetic evidence to solve a fictitious murder mystery case.

"We use the murder mystery element as a fun way to teach students about the different elements of DNA and forensics, and what you can do with them and how they are used," said Roma Friedman, the camp's director.

During the week the students were taught how to collect and analyze DNA, how to examine and match fingerprints, how to investigate a crime scene and how to use state-of-the-art equipment that actual forensic and genetic experts use.

Through a variety of different science experiments the students quickly learned that there is a vast difference between real life and what is displayed on shows like CSI.

"I watch CSI and Criminal Minds a lot," said Diyyinah Jamora, a student going into Grade 11 at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School. "Being [at the camp] I learned that even though CSI makes it look really easy, it's probably not that easy to find all of your evidence in an hour and then solve a crime three days later. It is a really long process and there is such an amazing science behind it."

Friedman explained that the students learned about the actual scientific practices involved in forensic investigations and that a forensic investigating can be just as exciting as what they see on television, but perhaps just not as glamorous.

"There are a lot of techniques on CSI that are used in real life but they don't show most of the work that goes on behind the scenes," said Friedman. "They just show a flash, and then we have it! The machines and the equipment they use are right, but it takes a lot of back hours and there is a lot of tedious careful work behind getting results."

Along with learning how to collect DNA and matching fingerprints, the students were given the opportunity to hear from a variety of guest speakers and learn how to pursue a career within the fields of forensics and genetics.

"We had a guest speaker who is an expert in pathology, we had an RCMP officer and we had a PhD scientist who studies cancer cells speak to the students," said Freidman. "We also gave the students resources about working in a lab or how to get an internship

so they can maybe take the next step and do research in a more formal setting."

Geneskool summer camp has been running for four consecutive years and Friedman believes that each year the camp provides students in B.C. a great opportunity to learn about how much variety there is in the field of science.

"So many kids think that medical school or dentistry are the be all and end all of science," she said.

"I really want to expand their horizons and show them all the different kinds of ways that science comes into your life and what you can do with the tools that are available."

For Friedman, another positive aspect of the camp was the ability to integrate learning into a fun, social environment.

"A big thing I have been trying to do is foster friendships," she said. "The students have enjoyed the social aspect of the camp and for me I have enjoyed putting them into teams to solve the case, and watching how well they work together and form friendships."

Jamora couldn't agree more with her instructor's assessment.

"This is super fun for summer, a lot of people do summer school, but this is such a great change from school and I wish school was like this every day," she said.

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