By Katherine Zhang, Nandhitha Gopalakrishnan, Olivia Zhang and Natalie Tam

In celebration of the International Day for Women and Girls in Science, ourselves and Miss Lauren Heyward had the privilege of attending a forensics event held by the Australian Federal Police. Female students and teachers from schools all around Canberra gathered to meet some of AFP’s forensic scientists to hear from their expertise and experiences, as well as learn about what a career in the field of forensics looks like. Throughout the day, we were able to partake in a wide variety of workshops, delving into various aspects of the fascinating world of forensics.

The first workshop focused on blood verification, where we conducted tests on various samples to determine their authenticity. After using cotton swabs to collect a small amount of each sample, we placed them onto chemical strips and observed the reaction. To our surprise, the brown samples that looked the least like blood were the ones that were synthetic blood, despite their dissimilar appearance. We learned that this method is commonly used by forensic scientists to obtain a rudimentary assessment of whether a substance could be blood. However, it is not definitive and requires further analysis as other substances such as rust, and even potatoes, can produce similar results due to their chemical composition. In another workshop, we explored how fingerprints can be revealed from evidence and crime scenes. By pressing our hands onto paper and brushing a magnetic substance over the top, our fingerprints were revealed as the substance stuck to the oil-substances from our skin. It was intriguing to see that the effectiveness of this method depended on the greasiness of our hands. These engaging workshops allowed us to gain valuable insight into forensic techniques for evidence collection and analysis.

The event was a truly inspirational opportunity for and valuable experience to us as students. As we delved into the field of forensic science, we were deeply captivated by the depth of knowledge and passion, allowing us to witness how scientific technology can be applied to a real-life scenario. In this thoroughly enjoyable and unforgettable experience, we have gained a newfound deeper appreciation for forensics, and a sense of eagerness to continue exploring the enthralling field of science.