The Science of Criminal Investigations – What is Studied in Forensic Science?
Forensic science is one of the youngest sciences in the world. It focuses on the study of the physical evidence that is created by a crime or related event. Forensic science can lead to a number of professions that relate to the collection, examination and interpretation of physical evidence including medical examiner, crime lab analyst, crime scene examiner, forensic engineer, forensic psychologist, and technical forensic adviser. Crime Scene Examiner The first profession that many people think about when they think about forensic science is the crime scene examiner. This person is responsible for managing the collection and documentation of physical evidence at a crime scene. This person usually doesn’t analyze the data, as this is done by another professional. They instead are trained in how to protect evidence from becoming damaged, lost or contaminated. This career requires an understanding of physics, biology and of ballistics. Crime Lab Analyst The next career in forensic scienc