Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The Science of the Dead

The science field I have chosen is forensic science. Forensic science is used in a court of law and combines many sciences to help solve legal questions both for criminal and civil cases. There are many types of sub-sciences stemming from forensic science including forensic engineering, linguistics, psychology, anthropology, biology, entomology, geology, pathology, and toxicology. Jobs forensic scientists have range from collecting evidence (finger prints, hairs, blood, etc) from crime scenes, running evidence through machines, studying a corpse to determine the cause of death, or presenting information during a trial. For more information on forensic scientists check out what the American Academy of Forensic Scientists has to say.

This type of science appeals to me because I enjoy watching the CSI shows on television. I realize that the shows don’t accurately depict what the job is actually like but I find them intriguing none the less. I also love trying to solve challenging puzzles and that’s what the job basically is. Another reason I am attracted to the job is I would prefer to be able to move around during my job. By this I mean I would rather be out collecting evidence or working in a lab than sitting behind a computer in a cubicle all day.
Being a forensic scientist meets my goals because one of my goals is to get into a field where I can help others. Through this job I can collect, review, and present information that will help get justice for those who have been harmed by a criminal’s doing or are wrongly accused of doing something themselves. Another goal I have is to make sure I end up doing something I love for a living. If I am a forensic scientist I’m at least guaranteed things will not become boring or too repetitive over time because of the variety of cases I could be dealt.

Being a forensic scientist matches my thinking style because I like to challenge myself to think outside the box. I would have to do this in order to handle cases that are out of the ordinary. This profession also matches my learning style because I would have to learn things by doing them, such as how to process evidence, and by seeing them, such as recognizing the different types of blood spatter, and I am a visual learner.

The legacy forensic scientists have for future generations is making the process of solving cases quicker through new technological advances which in turn should make the process easier too. When this happens, criminals will be caught more frequently which might reduce the crime rate.

Bibliography:
http://www.deviantcrimes.com/bloodspatter.htm
http://www.topbits.com/forensic-science.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00206/index1.htm
http://www.aafs.org/default.asp?section_id=resources&page_id=choosing_a_career

Pictures from Thomas Edison High School, Engines of Our Ingenuity, and HowStuffWorks