Local news delivered daily to your email inbox. Subscribe for FREE to the rdnewsNOW newsletter.

Students test forensic investigation skills at St. Francis

May 18, 2017 | 12:17 PM

It was a case of whodunit at St. Francis of Assisi Middle School on Thursday.

Close to 200 grade six students were treated to forensic science-focused activities, courtesy of Let’s Talk Science and student volunteers from the University of Calgary.

Activities included chromatography, and analysis of fingerprints, chemicals and handwriting.

Michelle Frunchak, math and science teacher at St.Francis, says the program falls directly in line with the current curriculum.

“This is probably one of the most high-engaging units we cover. They love the hands-on activities,” she says. “They all watch the CSI shows on TV, so they love being able to get in there and try and help solve crimes.”

Frunchak adds while not all the students will grow up to become forensic scientists, what they’re learning is good for being able to analyze and organize information, as well as for problem-solving skills.

Let’s Talk Science volunteer and U of C biochemistry student Dean Lang led one of the workshops.

“It really connects with the stuff that they’ve learned and gives them some exposure to some materials that we can bring from the university that they normally wouldn’t be able to experience in class,” he says.

“Careers in science are becoming huge. We need the next generation of scientists here so that we have our industry going and have that ability to be competitive.”

Let’s Talk Science programming is offered across Canada to all grades, as well as to adults. The program was also at West Park Middle and Eastview Middle schools on Thursday.

More information is at LetsTalkScience.ca.