Get to know your instructor and the club

Summary

Dr. Annette Tepe, a biochemist with experience in academia and industry, introduces the Forensics Club, emphasizing the importance of observational skills in forensic investigations. The club offers live sessions with interactive elements like polls and discussions, and members can also access recorded content. Dr. Tepe discusses how our perception can be clouded by focus, using a card trick video to demonstrate how easily we miss key details. The session sets the stage for learning about forensic techniques, DNA analysis, and problem-solving skills, creating an engaging, hands-on environment for club members.

Takeaways

• 😀 Dr. Annette Tepe introduces herself as the mentor for the Forensics Club, bringing her biochemistry background and industry experience to teach forensic techniques.
• 😀 The Forensics Club meets live every Thursday evening, but recordings are available for those who cannot attend the live sessions.
• 😀 Interactive elements, such as polls and quizzes, will be part of the club meetings to keep members engaged and provide a dynamic learning experience.
• 😀 The Forensics Club offers a dedicated Forensics Chat where members can ask questions, share insights, and access additional materials beyond the live sessions.
• 😀 One of the core topics of the club is observational skills, which are essential for effective forensic investigations and the ability to interpret crime scene evidence.
• 😀 Dr. Tepe discusses how our brains often fail to perceive everything around us because we are focused on specific tasks or details, using the example of reading a book in a library.
• 😀 Witnesses in forensic cases might think they saw an event but may have missed crucial details because they were focused on other things, highlighting the importance of clear observation.
• 😀 Dr. Tepe explains how perception can be influenced by distractions, using the example of a card trick to show how easy it is to miss key details.
• 😀 The lesson from the card trick: sometimes the most important clues are right in front of us, but we miss them due to our focus on something else.
• 😀 Dr. Tepe emphasizes that observational skills in forensics require careful analysis, attention to detail, and the ability to organize and assess information methodically.
• 😀 The Forensics Club will focus on practical skills and techniques, helping members develop their abilities in areas such as DNA analysis, crime scene investigation, and problem-solving.

Q & A

Who is Dr. Annette Tepe and what is her background?

Dr. Annette Tepe is a biochemist with a PhD in Biochemistry. She has research experience in both academia and industry. Her personal passions include writing, reading mystery novels, and watching Forensic Files, which aligns with her interest in forensic science.

What is the main purpose of the Forensics Club?

The Forensics Club aims to teach forensic science concepts, focusing initially on observational skills. It provides an interactive platform for members to learn about forensic techniques, such as DNA analysis, and to engage in problem-solving activities related to solving crimes.

What is the structure of the Forensics Club meetings?

The Forensics Club meets every Thursday night at 6:00 PM CST (7:00 PM EST). Sessions are interactive, with the opportunity to join live, ask questions, and participate in activities. If members can't attend live, recordings are available, and a chat group offers further interaction.

How does the Forensics Club use the chat feature?

The Forensics Chat allows club members to communicate, share insights, ask questions, and discuss topics covered in meetings. It also provides a platform for additional content like videos, updates, and extended activities related to forensic science.

What is the first topic to be covered in the Forensics Club?

The first topic covered is observational skills. The club explores how people perceive the world around them and how these perceptions can be flawed, especially in the context of crime scene investigations.

What example does Dr. Tepe give to explain the concept of observational skills?

Dr. Tepe gives the example of a person sitting in a library reading a book. If something unexpected happens, like someone tripping and falling, the person may not observe all the details because their focus is on the book. This illustrates how our brains can miss key information if we're not paying attention to the right things.

Why is it important to understand how our perceptions can be flawed in forensic science?

In forensic science, it's crucial to recognize how our perceptions can be incomplete or inaccurate. Eyewitness testimony, for example, may not always provide reliable information because witnesses might not notice all the details, which is why careful analysis of physical evidence is essential.

What is the purpose of the 'Can You Crack the Code?' activity?

'Can You Crack the Code?' is a problem-solving activity designed to test participants' ability to think critically and observe details. It encourages members to practice their analytical skills, which are vital in forensic science.

How does the video about observational skills illustrate the concept of missing details?

The video shows how a magician uses distraction to perform a trick. Participants are asked to focus on memorizing a card, but they miss other changes, like the magician wearing a different shirt or using different cards. This highlights how focus and distraction can cause us to overlook important details.

How does Dr. Tepe relate observational skills to real-life situations like car buying?

Dr. Tepe compares observational skills in forensic science to a car-buying scenario, where a fast-talking salesperson tries to distract you with details about the car while you overlook other factors like price and features. This analogy teaches the importance of staying focused and analyzing all the facts carefully.