What happens in third year labs?
You actually start learning the techniques applicable to forensics. You learn how to use complicated instruments that are used in forensic labs. And you will learn how to do sample preparation methods, which is about understanding the chemical structure of a sample that you need to do before you can perform analysis.
What kind of activities do you do in third year labs?
For example, you learn how to do gas-chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and infra-red spectroscopy. Recently we did this lab called GS (gas-chromatography) arson, where we got pieces of debris from a fire and we had to learn how to extract what we think was the source of the fire, the accelerant.
What skills do you need for third year classes?
You need to be able to memorize a lot. You also need to be able to take everything you’ve learned in the first two years and apply it, because it’s not really separate.
How are third and fourth year classes different from first and second year classes?
Well, the material is more detailed. If there’s anything you missed in the first two years, it’s your responsibility to review it because there’s so much new material that there’s really no time to review the old material. You also learn about things that are new in the field of forensics, to be knowledgeable about the newest developments in the field, which you need to know to say that you’re a forensic scientist.
What else do you need to do to succeed in the second half of the program?
In order to be able to truly understand what you’re professors are talking about sometimes you have to read outside your textbook, because the textbook may not contain sufficient information.
There is definitely a lot reading and studying in the second half of the program, which can be very time-consuming. But if you are patient, you will see that in the third year everything will come together, like a flash of lighting.
Thank you, Cindi-Ann.