An Educational / STEM "hands-on" CSI Forensic Science Crime Scene Investigation Workshop

Pulse Education and Business Services Limited [PulseCSI] delivers a STEM-centred programme designed to enthuse and engage young people, utilising the hook of Forensics and Crime Scene Investigation to generate the initial intrigue in young people who may otherwise be disengaged.  The activity will take the form of a workshop for the day, which is divided into two distinct sections. The first section, usually lasting approximately 2 ½ hours, develops the skills and knowledge attributed to forensic investigation. Pupils learn the techniques of gathering fingerprint evidence, using the genuine forensic equipment of brushes and powders. Alongside this section, pupils are taught about the uniqueness of fingerprints and DNA, including aspects of personal heritage and identity. The first part also includes the gathering of trace evidence, looking at hair and fibres under a microscope as a part of a forensic investigation. Finally, the students examine footwear marks, using authentic footwear casting kits as if working on a crime scene outdoors.

The second half of the workshop sees the students apply their newly acquired knowledge to the investigation of a mock murder crime scene. By gathering and analysing fingerprints, trace evidence and contextual information at the same time as working within a team, using communication and critical evaluation skills, they draw together the evidence to discover who the main suspect is in the case. 

The delivery of this workshop actively contributes towards the National Collaborative Outreach Programme’s delivery by showcasing to students real-life applications of careers which have resulted from aspirations to higher education. Careers discussed are not only around that of Crime Scene Investigation but also around the various areas of forensic laboratory work, as well as other roles such as Pathologists, Entomologists, Blood Spatter Analysts and Firearms Specialists. 

A workshop delivered by Pulse will exhibit the positive aspects of career pathways in STEM, introduced through the intrigue that is forensic investigation. This methodology provides pupils with an earned reward, through their hard work and endeavours not only through the skillsets of critical evaluation and ‘out of the box’ thinking, but through the reinforcement of soft skills, such as communication, teamwork and listening, whereby they learn to value and process other people’s ideas. Such skills are highly sought after in higher education settings.

Increased progression of young people to higher education, Increased aspirations of target young people, Increased attainment of target young people.

Pulse CSI workshops act as gateways to STEM topics, promoting these subjects through varying age groups - our delivery has been sought after to run alongside related A-level courses. The added benefit of a Pulse workshop is that our forensic delivery specialists reinforce the rhetoric of the positive outcomes of HE, serving as a physical example of people who have made a success of their life and career through attending university. Our workshops have proven to increase the attainment of students in various subject areas, even beyond STEM subjects, feedback from the majority of teachers indicates a significant improvement in literacy and oracy skills following a Pulse workshop. This is a clear indication to us that our work is inspiring young people to write about and talk about the exciting things that they do with us.

Many of our delivery associates come from varying fields of specialism, Former Crime Scene Examiners, Police Coordination Staff, Educational Specialists and Forensic Anthropologists to name just a few examples of the kinds of people Pulse employs to help raise the aspirations of young people. Our specialists are highly skilled in motivating students, using techniques of positive reinforcement to help them realise their potential. These interactions give our associates time in which to converse with the pupils, explaining what is involved in their specialism and the educational steps it took to reach that position, which in most cases, involves University and/or Further Education.

The format of our sessions actively challenges students’ low expectations of themselves. We nurture them throughout the first half of the session, where they often surprise themselves with their ability to apply advanced analytical reasoning and techniques in the final second half. This challenging of expectations becomes a useful tool for teachers in raising of students’ aspirations, acting as a point of reference for the time they managed to find the ‘main suspect’ through applying their new knowledge and skills.

In addition to the forensic and CSI approach of the day, a Pulse CSI workshop will feature an in-built Child Exploitation Online Protection course (CEOP) which looks at addressing the dangers of young adults spending time online, our intervention in this area has already proven in dire need, not only in preventing the dangers of child sexual exploitation but also given that some young adults, as young as Six have been shown to be playing games such as Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty with access to very mature and potentially damaging explicit material and online interactions, our workshops open a dialogue to this, often the taboo world, providing headway to parents and teachers to better tackle this issue.

Our delivery associates are trained CEOP ambassadors and always tailor the material to the appropriate age of the target students. We are very passionate about this area of our work as we feel that the online world has become an increasingly dangerous place for young people and the best thing we can arm them with is knowledgeable of how to stay safe and what to do if they feel something is wrong.

The STEM Directory is provided as a service to support you in finding enrichment opportunities. The activities are offered by external providers and are not endorsed by STEM Learning. We are not responsible for their content or delivery.