Students interested in using their science skills in crime scene investigations, crime labs and court cases have an education option through the University of Wisconsin-Superior's new concentration in forensic chemistry.
Beginning next fall, UW-Superior's Chemistry Department will offer a chemistry major with a concentration in forensic chemistry. The program covers scientific areas such as analytical chemistry as well as legal issues such as managing criminal investigations.
The new program reflects a growing interest among the public -- especially younger people -- in forensic science. It also stems from an increasing need for criminal prosecutors to provide forensic evidence to win their cases.
"Because of increasing interest in forensics, prosecutors often cannot obtain a conviction without forensic evidence. That's increasing demand for specialists in this field," said Dr. Michael Waxman, chemistry professor at UWS. "We have a chemistry program, a biology program with genetics and molecular biology courses, and we have a criminal justice program. We have the major components in place to offer a quality program in this field."
Waxman and chemistry professor Dr. James Lane decided to develop the forensic chemistry concentration after talking to community college instructors and high school counselors around the region and repeatedly being told of students' interest in forensic science. Research showed that few such programs are offered in the region so they decided to add the specialty to UWS's Chemistry Department.
ADVERTISEMENT
The American Chemical Society and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics both are optimistic about the growth of jobs in the forensic chemistry field.
The forensic chemistry concentration differs from the university's chemistry major by focusing more on analytical chemistry and including biology courses that cover topics such as DNA analysis. Students enrolling in existing chemistry courses also will find new laboratory experiments in topics such as infrared analysis and fluorescence.
Lane said the program's curriculum was developed to meet the requirements of graduate programs in the field.
Creating the new program required the chemistry professors to work closely with colleagues in the university's biology and criminal justice programs.
Dr. Gary Keveles, director of the university's criminal justice program, will focus on educating the science students about the investigative and legal aspects of the profession. The students will complete courses in criminal procedure and in managing criminal investigations, he said.
Biology coursework will help the students learn about fields such as genetics. "There are all sorts of forensic techniques that use genetic analysis, the most classic of which is DNA 'fingerprinting.' To fully understand this requires a good understanding of basic genetics," said biology professor Dr. Ralph Seelke.
The forensic chemistry concentration already is attracting UW-Superior students. Kelsie Murchy, a freshman biology major from Chetek, Wis., became interested in forensic science through a course at her high school and time spent "job shadowing" a scientist at the Wisconsin crime lab in Wausau. She plans to complete the chemistry major with forensic chemistry concentration to prepare for a career in forensic science.
"I chose forensic chemistry because I see it as a way of helping people who have lost loved ones in finding justice and help the victims get the justice they deserve," she said. "Forensic Chemistry is one way to use chemistry skills to help our communities and possibly make the world a better place."
