ABSTRACT
As we approach the end of the first decade of the twenty-first century,interest in the forensic sciences continues to grow. The continuedpopularity of television shows such as CSI, Crossing Jordan, Bones, and the like has stimulated such an interest in forensic science among middle and high-school students that many schools now offer “forensic science” as a subject choice alongside the more traditional subjects of biology, chemistry, and physics. Each year, the number of colleges and universities offering majors in forensic science at both undergraduate and graduate level has increased, and more and more graduates are entering the job market looking for positions in the forensic science industry. The various disciplines that comprise forensic science provide the opportunity to use education and training in ways that the average student may imagine is rarely possible. On a day-to-day basis, the forensic scientist is called upon to apply the laws of science to the solution of problems that may link a particular individual to a particular crime scene or incident. Alternatively, the same tools and techniques may exonerate an innocent person who has been wrongly accused of committing a crime.
