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Forensic science plays a critical role in modern criminal investigations, but a gap remains between the education students receive in forensic programs and the practical skills needed in real-world forensic laboratories. In response, the New York State Police Crime Laboratory System (NYSP CLS) launched an educational outreach initiative aimed at addressing these disparities. The program, detailed in a 2024 review published in Forensic Science International: Synergy by Ray Wickenheiser and colleagues, is designed to bridge the gap between academic institutions and forensic laboratories by providing students with mentorship, hands-on experience, and a clearer understanding of what it takes to pursue a career in forensic science.
The initiative brings together academic institutions and forensic laboratories in an effort to better prepare students for careers in forensic science, while also benefiting labs by creating a recruitment pipeline and offering opportunities for research collaborations. The program is a win-win, enriching students’ education while exposing forensic professionals to new talent.
The Educational Outreach Initiative: Goals and Approach
The NYSP CLS’s educational outreach program is built on the premise that engaging students early and exposing them to the realities of forensic work will help close the gap between education and the workplace. The program partners with multiple academic institutions and targets four main goals: enhancing student skills, providing resources to laboratories, refining academic programs, and fostering scientific research.
Through a series of lectures, mentorship mixers, and laboratory tours, students are given the opportunity to learn directly from forensic professionals. This gives them not only a clearer picture of forensic disciplines like DNA analysis, drug chemistry, and toxicology but also the chance to network and ask questions about their own career paths. Each semester concludes with a hands-on laboratory tour, where students can see forensic science in action and gain firsthand experience in different forensic disciplines.
The outreach initiative isn’t just about attracting new talent to forensic laboratories; it’s about preparing students to be successful in the field from the outset. The program also aims to improve retention in the field by fostering a sense of mentorship and professional growth among forensic scientists themselves.
Mentorship Mixers and Real-World Exposure
One of the most innovative aspects of the NYSP CLS’s initiative is the mentorship mixer. After each lecture on a specific forensic discipline, students engage in informal Q&A sessions with forensic scientists. These sessions offer students a rare opportunity to ask specific questions about the work environment, career requirements, and real-life challenges of forensic scientists. According to feedback from participants, these mixers were some of the most valuable elements of the program, allowing students to build connections with professionals in the field.
While lecture-based learning is critical, it can only take students so far in preparing them for the realities of forensic work. The laboratory tours, which cap off each semester, give students an inside look at the day-to-day operations of a crime lab. These tours offer demonstrations of forensic techniques and allow students to see how forensic scientists handle evidence, conduct analyses, and navigate the challenges of real cases.
In some cases, students even have the chance to witness mock case analyses, such as during a session on seized drug analysis, where they observed the handling of mock casework from start to finish. This practical exposure provides students with a deeper understanding of what forensic scientists do every day, while helping them decide if forensic science is the right career path for them.
Mutual Benefits for Laboratories and Universities
The outreach initiative is not just beneficial for students; forensic laboratories and academic institutions also reap the rewards. For forensic laboratories, the program provides a consistent flow of well-prepared applicants who already have a solid understanding of what the job entails. This reduces the burden on labs to extensively train new hires and increases the likelihood that candidates will be well-matched for the job.
Meanwhile, academic institutions benefit by receiving feedback from forensic labs on how to tailor their curricula to better prepare students for the field. Some forensic science programs may not adequately cover certain aspects of forensic work, such as the analytical techniques used in real-world labs. By partnering with forensic laboratories, colleges and universities can refine their programs to meet industry needs and ensure that their students are well-equipped to succeed after graduation.
Challenges and Future Directions
Despite its success, the educational outreach initiative has not been without challenges. One of the main hurdles is the time commitment required from forensic scientists who participate as mentors. Between caseloads and other responsibilities, it can be difficult to find the time to engage in outreach activities. However, the NYSP CLS has worked to minimize this impact by limiting mentor involvement to approximately three hours per month.
Another challenge is ensuring that students have access to internships or hands-on training opportunities within forensic labs. Due to background checks and the cost of training, many labs find it difficult to take on interns. To address this, the program is exploring new models, including remote internships in collaboration with universities, where students can work on research or validation projects relevant to the needs of the lab.
Looking ahead, the outreach program plans to expand its reach by partnering with more universities and even extending its offerings to high school STEM students. By engaging students earlier in their academic careers, the program hopes to inspire more students to pursue forensic science as a profession and create a steady pipeline of talent for the future.
Conclusion
The NYSP CLS educational outreach initiative represents an important step forward in bridging the gap between forensic education and the workplace. By creating partnerships between forensic laboratories and academic institutions, the program not only enhances the student experience but also addresses the challenges laboratories face in recruiting and retaining qualified forensic scientists. With plans for expansion and ongoing refinement, this outreach initiative has the potential to become a model for other forensic laboratories seeking to cultivate the next generation of forensic professionals.
Citations
Wickenheiser, R., Cadau, A., Muro, C., Whitfield, S., McGinnis, C., Murray, L., France, M., Niles, L., Barron, D., & Valentin, L. (2024). The forensic educational outreach initiative – Bridging the gap between education and workplace. Forensic Science International: Synergy, 8, 100448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2023.100448
