Last week our year 8 AMS students took part in the Varsity College AMS Forensics Challenge.
Students worked through a range of tests designed to decipher who the perpetrator of a crime was and collect enough evidence to put this “mysterious” person behind bars. They conducted tests such as finger print analysis in which they took the fingerprints off a water bottle left by the perpetrator and cross-referenced them to the 10 suspects. In addition, they discovered a footprint that allowed them to calculate height of the assailant. Along with these clues, the perpetrator left some DNA evidence in the form of hair and blood which they ran through multiple tests, revealing their blood type (A+) as well as their specific DNA signature and hair colour. Making use of all these clues, the students ruled out 9 of the 10 suspects, leaving only 1.
Overall, the day was a really engaging and enriching experience for the students of the Year 8 AMS program, and gave them an insight into how forensic scientists utilise methods such as these to build up evidence against offenders of the law.
