Education and Forensic Science—CSI: College, Part 1 by Max Houck

Jan asked me to write a couple of guest blogs about topics I like (Jan happens to be one of those topics, but that’s another blog). So I chose education, which is this blog; it if goes well, then I may do another one. If you’re wondering who I am, I am a forensic anthropologist, trace analyst, and educator who has worked in forensic science for the last 20-plus years. I have worked in the private sector (an instrument company and a policy institute), public sector (at an ME’s office and the FBI Laboratory), and in academia (at West Virginia University). I have worked hundreds of cases, taught hundreds of people, and published several books and textbooks in forensic science. I was also the Chair of the Forensic Science Educational Program Accreditation Commission (FEPAC), which I’ll talk more about later.

Because of documentary shows, like Forensic Files, and more fictionalized accounts, such as the CSI series, forensic science is a permanent part of the modern culture. These popular portrayals of forensic science are glossy, pretty, and dramatic–a far cry from the work actually done by forensic professionals. That popular perception also obscures not only the profession reality of forensic science but also what it takes to become a forensic scientist, namely, a strong science education. With the increased recognition that forensic science needs to emphasize its scientific foundations, both from within the profession and from external critics, comes the realization that forensic science is a separate discipline, in its own right, and not “merely applied” chemistry, biology, or other sciences. Popular interest fairly flooded the existing forensic science programs, particularly with the high profile cases of the early 1990s, and the corresponding growth in the number of educational programs offering forensic science degrees contributed to the need for accreditation of these programs. Accreditation provides assurance for students on what to expect in a program and for employers of what the graduate should be able to do. The 2009 report from the National Academy of Sciences recommended increasing emphasis on graduate education in forensic science and, with that, additional research to improve the reliability of the science used in investigations, laboratories, and courtrooms.

The first forensic science educational program in the US was created in 1946 at Michigan State University (one of my alma maters—Go Spartans!); today, there are hundreds of programs with the words “forensic ” in their title. The profession of forensic science requires a solid grounding in the natural sciences, an understanding of statistics and interpretation, an appreciation for management skills, and the perspective of the role of forensic science in the criminal justice system. With the increased recognition of forensic science as a separate discipline, additional calls from the community demanded improvement in the quality of forensic science education. Although accreditation and standardization of forensic science programs was not a new message, a confluence of effort, resources, and people were needed to act on the community’s desires.

What does it take to be a forensic scientist? Lots of studying and personal integrity

Most forensic laboratories require at least a bachelor’s degree in science for an entry-level job. The daily work demands this: Chemistry, Biology, Statistics, Physics, and Materials Science are all central to the work of forensic experts. If you like this sort of study and do well at it, that’s the first step. The second is far more personal. Who are you as a person? The demands of the forensic job are many and can hit you hard in a variety of ways. Consider the nature of the work: You do not deal with the happiest segments of society—murder, sexual assault, robberies, kidnapping. I know many people who love the science but can’t take the inherent sadness of the work or the disturbing nature of some of the crimes. If you think working a crime scene is like one of the CSI shows, think again. It’s hard to ignore the way they are portrayed on TV; even at their scummiest, those scenes are pretty clean compared with some of the scenes I’ve been at. The main thing TV doesn’t convey is the smell. Crime scenes all have a particular smell to them. And, for me, it was never a shock to see a dead person in the morgue (I worked for a medical examiner for a while) but it was at the scene in someone’s living room. Bodies belong in the morgue, not in a house. If I’ve learned anything in my years of working in forensic science, it’s that (1) no matter how dirty my house gets, it’s still clean by comparison, and  (2) my sex life is boring, again by comparison, and I’m happy with that.  Ultimately, in forensic science, you have to be able to handle both: The science and forensic stuff.

The other aspect of the personal side is honesty. The citizenry of the jurisdiction you serve (key word, there) have entrusted you (another key word) with their safety. You help the police solve crimes through scientific expertise. You will have access to many things that may seem tempting, like valuable items, drugs, guns, or money. Breaking that public trust is one of the worst things you can ever do: You have disappointed thousands and thousands of people who believe in the rule of law and that justice is possible. To work in a forensic capacity, you must be able to hold the trust of the citizens you serve. It is an awesome responsibility and peoples’ lives are in your hands. You can’t let them down.

[To be continued.

Tomorrow: 

How do I pick a forensic science educational program? ]