Image details: DNA Testing served by picapp.com

Most parents would take exception with a summer camp where their children were looking at methamphetamine and cocaine, maybe even if they were fake. Not so, however, for parents of Camp CSI: Birmingham attendees. Last week, campers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, all of them high school students from the Birmingham area, spent five days engrossed in the real-life science behind the three CSI television series.

For the first four days, campers at the program, hosted by UAB’s Department of Justice Sciences, spent the morning being briefed by grad students and forensic science/criminal justice faculty, and working in six different teams collecting samples from different crime scenes. Then, they spent the afternoons in the lab with UAB grad students, testing blood samples, extracting DNA, and matching simulated meth and cocaine samples to a substance database. On Friday, the the teams work together on one big case. Each team collected evidence from a different part of the scene. In the afternoon, they testified about their evidence in a mock trial.

This sounds like an great opportunity for students turned on by chemistry and biology. The camp cost $199, plus a $50 registration fee, and included lunch and a snack, daily.

The camp curriculum lists the following objectives:

• Help students develop their analytical skills;
• Help students learn (by doing) the steps involved in the scientific method;
• Teach students how to collect, preserve, secure, analyze, and present evidence;
• Expose students to current generation equipment and methods used in forensic-based laboratories;
• Expose students to the reality of forensic-based investigations of crime scenes;
• Allow students to have fun while learning about such topics as DNA, fingerprints, criminalistics, and related forensic-based concepts.

Birmingham area students interested in this program for 2009, should check out the UAB Department of Justice Sciences website, especially the Camp CSI Birmingham: 2008 page.

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This video is an autopsy of a man who died of an apparent gunshot wound. Who pulled the trigger?

Okay, who’s up for a seafood luncheon?

Video Source: National Geographic

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Microsoft Surface

Microsoft Surface user manipulates photos.

For the past several years, Microsoft has been working on an interactive surface similar –in many ways- to the screen used by CBS’ Hummer-driving Miami CSIs. Microsoft Surface comes in a 30-inch diagonal screen that uses rear projection and infrared cameras to recognize multiple, simultaneous hand gestures and objects laid onto the surface.

Microsoft Surface.

(click on “Read More” for lots more)

Key features, according to Microsoft:

• Direct Interaction: Users can manipulate on-screen images, text, and any other elements, by touching and gesturing, without ever using a mouse or keyboard.
• Multi–Touch: Surface responds to many points of contact simultaneously. So, you can touch the screen with all your fingers, elbows, or whatever, activating and manipulating dozens of points on the screen at once.
• Multi–User: The tabletop, horizontal form factor allows several people to gather around Microsoft Surface at once, providing a very collaborative, interactive, face–to–face workspace.
• Object Recognition: Cameras within Surface recognize objects placed on the display. Optical recognition allows Surface to respond appropriately to different objects. In the future, this will include transfering digital content between the Surface and devices.

Microsoft Surface demonstration.

Currently, Surface is only available for large leisure, entertainment, and retail companies. Small business applications, and possibly crime lab applications, will be available in the future. Microsoft expects to have Surface available to consumers, sometime between 2011 and 2013. Microsoft has a software development kit, which, once available to the public, will surely lead to some creative and aggressive developers releasing some incredible applications for lawyers, doctors, and crime labs. Microsoft packages and makes available its own applications for use by development partners, including “virtual concierge”, “music”, and “photo”. So, once the real Miami CSIs have this technology in hand, they’ll also be able to order drinks from the same display. Just kidding, I think.

Microsoft Surface displays info for AT&T phone placed on the display.

In April, Microsoft placed several Surface interfaces in select AT&T retail outlets in New York, San Antonio, Atlanta and the San Francisco Bay area. The public can interact with the displays in these locations, which display information about a phone when the users places it on the Surface tabletop. Later this year, Microsoft plans to have applications available through their other partners, Harrah’s Entertainment, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, and T–Mobile USA.

Children “paint” on Microsoft Surface.

For more information, check out the Microsoft Surface info page.

The purpose of this 24-hour Blog-a-thon is to bring in support for the Actors’ Fund. You can help by making a donation here.

All images: Newscom.

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Get Grissom on the horn! Las Vegas, the hometown of the critically acclaimed, original CSI series is no longer home to a university forensic science program. Administrators at UNLV pulled the plug on the program, citing the need for budget cuts. The administration also points to the financial inability to appoint a program director and the faculty required to attain accreditation for the program.

Background Check

Creating the program was a brilliant move, actually. Build upon the mystique, and the fact that the country already associates forensic science with Las Vegas. Less than five years ago, the university began the program, hoping to build upon this association. Currently, the program, though, has a mere 80 students. Perhaps this is fewer than they would have liked.

The Mystery

Las Vegas Metro Crime Scene Analyst Daniel Holstein, who inspired one of CSI’s characters, spoke to the Las Vegas Sun. According to Holstein, Metro has hired many graduates of the program. This seems contrary to university staff claims that you need an accredited program to get a job. In fact, the Metro has no such requirement. Certainly, you would see accreditation as a positive, but Metro’s acting director of crime scene investigation Randy McLaughlin told the Sun that they would love to have locally trained potentials to select from, when hiring new analysts. “People that grew up here, people that were raised here, are more likely to stay around…”, he adds.

The Proof, The Rub, The Rebuttal

One former student, Lisa Ford, graduated in December 2007. She now has a lucrative job gathering evidence at the scene, interviewing witnesses, and writing crime scene reports. One would believe that a program that allows a graduate to land a $40,000-plus first job would be a good selling point.

That’s great for field specialists, perhaps. Is accreditation, however, necessary for laboratory analysis work? It might help, but Linda Krueger, Las Vegas Metro’s director of laboratory service, told the Sun that she looks for workers with strong science backgrounds. Accredited programs are not a requirement.

In the end, it would appear that UNLV fell into that trap of following pop culture to create buzz, but didn’t do the homework. From the evidence, it seems that the university never looked into the requirements of furthering the program, or even think about where they wanted the program to go. Perhaps, though, it’s just the harsh reality of running a university, and facing reduced enrollment and income. Either way, it seems a horrible shame.

Read the Sun article, Amid budget cuts, UNLV pronounces its CSI program dead, for more details.

What do you think about the UNLV closing of its forensic science program? Did you attend this program? Do you know anyone who has?

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Last December, just in time for Christmas, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Foundation released to the public a list of household items in which their independent lab tests had found asbestos.
At the request of CBS, manufacturer Planet Toys removed from store shelves two toys on the list, the CSI: Fingerprint Examination Kit and the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Kit. The company insisted, however, that their own tests showed no signs of asbestos in the made-in-China kits. ADAF’s tests found asbestos in the fingerprinting dust in kits purchased at Toys ‘R Us.

Within the past month, federal and state suits were filed in California. The federal class action complaint seeks refunds for anyone wishing to return their kits, as well as payment for medical treatment for exposure to the tremolite asbestos in the kits, and asbestos testing for any kits that have not been opened. The California suits maintains that the manufacturer failed to meet the state’s Proposition 65 requirement to warn consumers when a product has been found to contain a known carcinogen, or any substance believed to cause cancer or birth defects.

Amazingly, despite any merit to the lawsuits, and the fact that asbestos levels in building materials and workplace air are regulated in the United States, there are no such limits to levels of the substance in toys or other household goods. So, while I’m protected from working in an environment with more than so many thousands of chrysotile fibers per cubic meter, the law seems to imply that your kid is fine brushing some asbestos-containing dust around and then being instructed to blow away any excess.

Please, if you know anyone who has one of these kits, warn them of the potential hazard, and of the lawsuits currently in action.

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When you share chemistry with someone, you significantly increase your chances of realizing these amazing benefits:

1. You’ll love their natural body fragrance–they’ll smell “sexier” than other people.
2. You’ll have a more satisfying sex life.
3. If you’re a woman, you’ll have a higher rate of orgasms.
4. There will be less cheating in your exclusive relationship.
5. As a couple, you’ll be more fertile.
6. Your children will be healthier.

Hey, maybe it’s a new way to find the love of your life. It costs $1,995.95 to join ScientificMatch for a one-year membership. If it really works, it’s probably worth it. If it doesn’t, it’s pretty expensive.

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and you never know, your DNA could have the key to finding your perfect Valentine. Or not.

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But perhaps I should have put a little more thought into it: The art studio DNA 11 will take your genetic profile, and, for a small fee, render it as “a breathtaking piece of timeless art.” Basically, they just print the code on a canvas, but they offer a wide range of colors and design choices. Prices begin at $390 for an 18″ x 24″ print, but why not just spring for a 36″ x 54″ for $790?

But the forensic fun doesn’t stop there. This inventive company can also make art out of your fingerprint or your kiss print. Hey, Valentine’s Day is coming up in a few days…

The company’s site tells you how to get started and they help you collect the evidence with which they will make your one-of-a-kind artwork. After all, no one else will have one exactly like yours, or give a gift more personal than this. It’s a great idea and a real conversation starter. I may just order one for my own home!

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Forensic Science Technician

You’ve seen the TV shows — these professionals collect and analyze physical evidence and document laboratory methods and findings. Computer skills and attention to detail are crucial as collection and processing of materials must be spot-on to safeguard evidence.

Forensic science technicians should develop a strong base in math and science as preparation for their associate degree, typically earned in applied science or science-related technology. Coursework will include laboratory work and hands-on learning. Once in the field, technicians can choose to specialize in a certain type of analysis or examination.

Median annual earnings: $44,010.

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