Forensics Background and Resources

While all branches of science have some connections or overlap with others, forensics is truly a broad field. It refers to any kind of science that is used to answer legal questions. This could mean anything from analyzing DNA found at a crime scene to using accounting techniques to look for evidence of a crime at a corrupt company. Almost any kind of scientific field or technique has some forensic application.

For example, there is forensic chemistry. This can include analyzing explosives for chemical residue, or checking someone's blood for evidence of poison. Forensic biology often means checking teeth against dental records, or analyzing DNA. Physics has many forensic applications, especially ballistics, or analyzing data about firearms.

Forensics also has the distinction of being one of the most "popular" kinds of science. People have long held a fascination with the work of forensic scientists or detectives, as characters like Sherlock Holmes or the long running CSI TV series and its many spinoffs and imitators, like Bones and NCIS can attest to.

Because forensics is often featured on TV dramas and real life high-profile courtroom cases, many people are drawn to a career in the field, especially for kids science fair projects. In fact, many universities and community colleges are now offering degrees in forensics. Some however have criticized these programs as being too watered down. It's important to remember that forensics involves a lot of serious science, and if your goal is to become a top investigator, you may be better off getting your degree in a subject like biology or chemistry before specializing in forensics itself.

Forensics can make a good topic for a science fair experiment or a research project. You can try your hand at analyzing fingerprints, or seeing if a blood pressure test can tell if someone is lying or telling the truth. You could research DNA testing or another topic you've seen or heard about for a class report. There are almost limitless options, and most are the kinds of topics that will really interest your classmates and teachers.

No matter what peaked your interest in forensics, whether a TV show, movie or a real life trial, you can find more in depth information on the internet. It's important to remember that the image portrayed in the media is not always that close to reality. Keep an open mind, and get ready to satisfy your curiosity about that most interesting branch of science: forensics.