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May 16, 2005
TV Unrealistic? Never.
Forensic classes give budding CSIs a reality check.In one hand, he holds a blood-smeared cotton swab over a beaker. In the other, he delicately clasps a dropper filled with a chemical solution.
Matthew Forneris pauses and looks to his forensic science professor for instructions. Very carefully, he's told, he must squeeze a drop of the liquid onto the tip of the swab.
But the college junior squeezes a bit too hard and the solution squirts onto the table, onto his hand -- everywhere but onto the swab.
"Whoops," Forneris mutters with a sheepish grin as the liquid dribbles down his fingers.
Professor Marilyn Miller gives him a sideways glance and says, "Did I tell you it was a carcinogen? No -- just kidding."
It's not exactly the slick and glamorous image of crime scene investigators portrayed on the "CSI" TV shows or "Crossing Jordan." But that's fine with Miller. The Virginia Commonwealth University professor began her career as a forensic scientist in 1979 -- long before it became trendy.
While such shows have boosted enrollment in forensic science classes nationwide, many in the field say they give budding crime scene investigators an unrealistic view of what the job is all about.
I have to say that I love CSI, but I have no illusions about its reality or lack thereof. I think anyone who has taken more than one chemistry lab class would be a fool to think otherwise. (If you want a better idea of the reality of forensics, watch the FBI Files on the Discovery Channel.)
My favorite thing on CSI is when they have a picture from some security camera that has an image of the suspect’s car where the license plate is about two pixels big, and they magically sharpen the image so that they can read the license.
I also really like the realistic morgue. Everything is all gray and dark, and they use super cool blue lights. The perfect environment for doing medical work, I’m sure. Also, the chambers for the bodies have translucent doors and there are blue lights inside the chamber so that you can see shadows of heads in each of them. (Unfortunately I was not able to find a picture of this, but believe me, it’s hilarious.) I’m sure the forensic budget for most police stations has a large chunk set aside for dramatic lighting.
Posted by illuminaria at May 16, 2005 12:33 PM