FHSU Girls' Math and Science Camp presents 'Crime Scene Investigation'

Staring into microscopes, analyzing data and crunching numbers all for the sake of solving a mystery and catching the "bad guys" may sound like a job for a middle-aged government agent, but for a select group of middle school girls, the secrets of crime scene investigation will no longer be mysteries.

From June 11 through 16, Fort Hays State University will host a Girls' Math and Science Camp encouraging middle-school girls' continued interest in those subjects. The camp will also encourage exploration in math-and science-related careers. The one-week residential summer camp will engage girls in a variety of fun and educational activities, provide professional role models and social experiences all designed to build girls' desire to succeed in math and science.

Girls will learn to use global positioning system (GPS) technology to locate a crime scene and find stolen goods, analyze microscopic soil samples to determine the characteristics of a mystery soil, build a robot to enter an "unsafe" situation, determine the speed of a car from evidence remaining after a crash, analyze ink to see who wrote the letter that can convict the guilty party, use math to figure out who was at the crime scene and find out how DNA fingerprinting can tell who has been at the crime scene.

The girls will also have the opportunity to work in small groups practicing math and science activities used by professional crime scene investigators and meet with practicing professionals in a variety of math and science occupations. Although the camp demands heavy brainpower, the girls won't miss their chance to let loose and have a good time. They will enjoy fun events with other girls who share their interests and experience the life of college students by living in the residence halls and eating in the cafeterias. Activities are also planned for the evening, including swimming, astronomy, movies and a natural history museum visit.

The event is sponsored by the FHSU Science and Mathematics Education Center in collaboration with the Sternberg Museum of Natural History and the FHSU departments of teacher education, math and computer science, physics, chemistry, biology and geosciences.

Registration is $175 and includes room and board and activity materials. For those selected to attend, a $75 deposit must be received by May 10 and the full balance by June 1. Scholarships are available.

Selected campers will learn additional details regarding supplies and rules following the selection process.

For more information contact Lanee Young at (785) 628-5669 or lyoung@fhsu.edu.

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