CSI turns kids on to forensics

Hit TV shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Cold Case are sexing-up science - with more school kids keen on a career in forensics.

Schools now offer forensics as part of the science module and New Zealand's CSI equivalent - the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) - sends investigators out to schools.

ESR science leader Sally-Ann Harbison says shows like CSI have helped get more young people interested in forensics.

"We have a lot more people wanting to be involved now," she says.

"I have children at every stage of the school system and they study legal aspects, court cases, forensic science, all of those things. They are learning some aspects of it from the age of 5."

ESR has met the increased demand with a school education programme and is considering expanding it.

Staff modify the lesson or the talk depending on the class. "You can't do the dead bodies with primary school kids but you can do the fingerprints and that sort of thing," Harbison says. "With the older ones you can do the tomato sauce around the classroom as blood. They love it.

"They all watch the detective and forensics programmes - the first question we get is 'oooh, is it like CSI?' A lot of the aspects are just like CSI - we just don't get the quick turnaround with results. Ours take more like six weeks."

- Herald on Sunday