Forensics?

[dudeincolorado]

So how it this diffrent from science crimebusters any advice or tips?

[gneissisnice]

As far as I know, its a lot more in depth. I think they ask several more powders and stuff, in addition to using flame tests for fibers and plastics. I think you need to know some stuff on forensic entomology (bugs) and stuff like that. Again, im not 100% sure, but its a start.

[genes_girl]

Yeah, forensics goes a lot more in depth. While I haven't done Crimebusters in a while, I have done forensics for the past 3ish years. Beyond the 15 powders ( no mixtures, thank goodness), you have to know a list of fibers and polymers, chromotography, hair ( dog, cat, human), blood ( ABO, avian, and a couple of others, as well as spatter and velocity stuff), DNA, fingerprints, footprints, tire marks, uses for the powders and polymers, bugs, glass refraction, and I know I probably missed some things. Don't forget the huge write up at the end including all your information and who did/did not do it.

Man I'll miss this event! It's fun but a lot of work. If they don't change the rules you are allowed 1 sheet of handwritten notes.

Good Luck!

If anyone has other questions I will be glad to help as well.

[dudeincolorado]

hmmm i know most of that cept blood, bugs, and glass refraction are the powders the same? crimbuster powders were like flour, cornstarch, salt, and other household stuff.

[genes_girl]

Some, but not all. Let's see if I can remember them:
NaCl
LiCl
KCl
Glucose
Sucrose
Sodium Carbonate
Sodium Bicarbonate
Calcium Carbonate
Sodium Acetate
Calcium Nitrate
Ammonium Chloride
Boric Acid
Cornstarch

And with the help of a rulebook, the final 2 are Calcium Sulfate and Magnesium Sulfate.

Those are these are the powders. I don't think the have changed in at least 2 years, so hopefully they won't change this year.

[dudeincolorado]

hmm i know a couple... you can tell sucrose and glucose apart from wwhat color they change in benidicts right?

[genes_girl]

Benedict's and heat

[dudeincolorado]

oh ok i guess i have to learn bout the others i love memorizing things

[genes_girl]

Yeah, have fun with that, there is a lot to know. Hopefully though you will be allowed a reference sheet, it makes life SOOO much easier.

[gneissisnice]

Let's see what i remember about forensic entomology..... Bugs can be used to determine:
1) if the body was moved (like if there are insects on it that wouldnt normally occur in the environment where the body was found, indicated the person was killed elsewhere and moved).
2)Time of death, based on the number of maggot generations.
and i forget the third one.
I never actually did the event, but i took a class on forensics. I hope this helps!

[adam124218]

Has anyone else on the boards done Forensics at Nationals? Are those tests intense or what? The sheet chromatography is always a disaster for us; we just can't seem to get the juices not to all run together. I'm curious what other people who took that test thought.

[genes_girl]

I did it at nationals this past year, and I think the year before but I am not completely certain. Honestly, the tests were not that different for us because the national supervisor runs our regional and state competitions as well. I did manage to completely screw our scores by forgetting to leave space for the liquid chromotography and just doing the pens...and then failing on the rf's. SO yeah, the test was more difficult because it is nats and the pressure is different, but the test itself was brutal. The shear number of questions every time is what always gets me- less than an hour to do all the practical parts, write the answers, explain the answers, write the write-up that combines it all, and clean? It is insane, but you've got to love it!

[adam124218]

Yeah, I had her for state too (meaning we're from the same state! ) but I just wanted to make the questions more broad.

The volume of test really is what makes it so insane, I agree. It's very difficult just to get everything done in that amount of time and be cleaned up and everything. I think it is a distinct advantage to know what you're in for going into it, though. Being able to handle the event coordinator is really important for that event. I asked her a question at nationals and she seriously screamed at me. I think if I hadn't been expecting that kind of response I would have been really rattled. But I think there is something sickly enjoyable about those tests. They're fun.

I can't wait until the nationals test booklet comes out to see if I got those fibers and hairs correct!

[dudeincolorado]

wait so is it like a really big test and testing?!

[genes_girl]

Yeah, the tests are somewhere between 130 and 200 questions, plus everything you have to do to find the answers. If you finish it ( and well, not with stupid answers) you are god. We came close once...at regionals. But it is both questions on results AND general information on fingerprints, DNA, etc. Don't forget the writeup as well!