Forensic detectives visit the University of Reading – University of Reading
12 June 2006Berkshire school children arriving at the University of Reading on Friday 16 June will find themselves transformed into forensic detectives as part of the department of Widening Participation's summer lecture. Experts from the National Centre for Biotechnology Education will ask the secondary school pupils to help them work out who has committed a murder by analysing the clues recovered from a fictitious crime scene. By process of elimination, the children will catch the criminal. In this interactive sideways look at crime scene investigations, the science behind some forensic technologies will be explained. For example: what is the basis of blood typing, why is DNA fingerprinting increasingly used in criminal cases, what do your shoes say about you and how can the internet help to catch a criminal? Dr Rachel Fretwell, the event organiser said, 'This year's summer lecture is designed to make children aware of the many exciting career paths you can follow with a degree in a science related subject. The lecture will be a lot of fun, following along the lines of a murder mystery game with real forensic technology thrown in.' Pupils aged 11 to 17 years will be attending from schools around the Berkshire area including Bracknell, Slough, Reading, Windsor and Thatcham. The free lecture will take place on Friday 16 June from 11:00am to 12:15pm in the Palmer Lecture Theatre, The University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus. If you would like to book places for a school group please contact Dr Rachel Fretwell on 0118 378 6127 or e.m.holmes@reading.ac.uk Notes to editor Schools currently taking part in the event are as follows: Garth Hill College – Bracknell Wexham School – Slough Thamesbridge College – Reading Windsor Girls – Windsor Kennet School – Thatcham Thames Valley University Reading College Reading Girls – Reading