Education

For upper forms of advanced secondary education

In cooperation with the Centre for Society and Genomics (CSG), the its academy and the University of Amsterdam, FGCN developed a programme containing a practical training for pupils in the upper forms of advanced secundary education titled 'Forensic DNA research: puzzling with peaks' (Forensisch DNA onderzoek: puzzelen met pieken).

In this DNA-lab, secondary school students (16 - 18 years old) will be able to experience, experiment and gain insight into the latest developments in forensic DNA research. They can be the forensic DNA experts themselves. At the end of the practical they will write an objective report for the public prosecutor about the DNA evidence in a robbery case; this report can be used in court.

'Puzzling with peaks' provides the students with an understanding of new developments in forensic DNA research. This, particularly appealing, specialist investigation is placed in a realistic context in order to teach students the differences between forensic DNA research in real life and DNA research in popular TV-shows like Crime Scene Investigation (CSI).

This lab is well-suited as a practical and in depth addition to the module forensic investigation of nature, life and technology (NLT). This lab is also suited for biology students that have sufficient knowledge of DNA and inheritance.

At present there are five travelling DNA-labs in which the Netherlands Genomics Initiative (NGI) outlines different genomic subjects to students. The forensic DNA-lab, whilst part of this initiative, and in essence the sixth laboratory in the consortium is not a travelling lab and is at the moment only available at the Its Academy, which is located in Amsterdam.

Should there be a school interested in registering for this programme, please go to the www.itsacademy.nl for more information.

For Police investigators

Police investigators get busy as DNA-researchers “Puzzling with peaks” huge success at Police Academy  

At the beginning of May, the Mobile DNA-lab involving forensic DNA-research was introduced, with great success, by the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) at the Police Academy, the training centre for Dutch police investigators. This practical training “Puzzling with peaks” has proved to be not only very valuable for high school students, but also for professional practitioners.

“By doing it yourself, forensic DNA-research becomes much more clear” said one of the technical police investigators who was very enthusiastic after the three hour practical course. This practical training is part of the course "Forensic Research" organised by the Police Academy. 

Following this, the Forensic Genomics Consortium Netherlands will investigate whether this interactive course, developed together with Centre for Society and Genomics and its academy, can be incorporated within the trainings program of jurists involved in the field of criminal justice.

Hereby a list of useful links (in Dutch), where FGCN is involved in educating Dutch students or public in general about the development of forensics research:

• Alles over DNA
• DNA Labs on the Road
• DNA: Sporen
• its academy