Forensic Science : A Boon for Crime Detection!!!!

Forensic Science: Use Science to solve crime

From homicide to high profile fraud, this interdisciplinary field holds the key to a challenging career.

Text Excerpt in Careers360

WHO was the world’s first known forensic scientist? History says it is Archimedes. A new crown had been made for King Hiero II. Had the goldsmith added some silver or was it solid gold? Who could solve this mystery without dissolving the crown?

 

It was Archimedes who solved it. He had noticed that water rising whenever he stepped into a bathtub. He solved the problem based on volume of the crown and the amount of displaced water.

 

But it was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s creation of Sherlock Holmes in the late nineteenth century that popularised the usage of science in solving crimes. It is the scene of the crime that often leads to the culprit. Enter the forensic scientist; it’s his job to collect evidences at the crime scene.

 

Though the field has existed for years yet, it is still not a career option for many despite being exposed to a TV series like CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) and plethora of detective stories.

The field is divided into three categories:

Forensic medicine includes forensic pathology, psychiatry, psychology, forensic medicine and odontology (dentistry). Laboratory sciences comprise chemistry, biology, toxicology, ballistics, fingerprints, questioned documents and impressions. Field sciences include crime scene investigation including fire and explosion scenes and drug laboratories. There’s nothing casual about this field and one must be very attentive during studies and during the investigations. Here’s why. “At a crime scene you have only one chance to collect evidence and lead the investigation. Even a single mistake on your part may be responsible for justice being denied,” warns Dr. Kewel Krishan, Senior Assistant professor, Dept of Anthropology, Panjab University, Chandigarh.

You need a strong science background, and being good in Maths is an unsaid prerequisite. You need a BSc in any discipline to pursue a two-year MSc in Forensic Science.