In a special collaboration, the Baltimore Police Department and Loyola University Maryland have opened the doors to a unique educational camp aimed at high school students interested in the field of forensic science. According to WMAR2 News, 16 teens from both Baltimore City and Baltimore County are taking part in this opportunity to get hands-on experience with crime scene investigations, fingerprinting, DNA typing, and ballistics.
The week-long camp, which comes at no cost to the students thanks to a grant, serves as a primer to the field of forensics - a combination of law and science that often holds the key to solving crimes. Teri Labbe, a forensic scientist with the Baltimore Police Department, shed light on the financial barriers that typically stand in the way of students attending such programs, "These camps do typically cost between $1,000 and $4,000 for students to come, but that was not our goal." Labbe stated, emphasizing the significance of making the camp accessible. Teri Labbe aims to provide insight into the forensic field beyond the glamourized television portrayal, ensuring that the students have a clear view of the career before investing in education, as detailed by WMAR2 News.
Participants are experiencing a breadth of forensic activities: ranging from the meticulous art of dusting for prints to the science of blood spatter and ballistics. Evian Hall, one of the high school attendees, relished the practical experience, "We really get to feel like we're in the lab taking out fingerprints looking at crime scenes", CBS News Baltimore reports. The sentiment was echoed by another participant, Giyah Al-Meteenoryster, who acknowledged the rare opportunity provided by the camp to explore a field that harmonizes scientific curiosity with community service.
Indeed, the element of community involvement resonates deeply with the students, many of whom are considering careers in forensic science as a means to serve and uplift their neighborhoods. "I want to reconnect families with answers," Hall expressed, as per CBS News Baltimore. Sigal Edwards, meanwhile, envisions the peace that such work can bring to those aching for justice and closure.
The partnership between Loyola University and the Baltimore Police aims to demystify the real work that goes into forensic science. Students like Malachi Smith said that the camp is reinforcing his ambition to pursue a career in forensics, recognizing early on that the reality of the field is much more time-intensive than TV dramas suggest, as reported by WMAR2 News.
