Classes give budding CSIs a reality check

Becoming a forensic scientist requires years of intensive chemistry studies, something that many students balk at, said Jose Almirall, director of the forensic science graduate program at Florida International University.

“A lot of kids say, ’I want to be a CSI because I like what they do on the show,”’ Almirall said. “And then you tell them, ‘Well, you have to take four years of chemistry.’ And they say, ‘Oh. I don’t wanna do that.”’

The TV shows and movies do get some things right, Miller said. And she frequently uses movies that glamorize the profession in her class to help point out what some of those things are. One of her favorites, “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle,” contains a spoof of ‘CSI’ in which the characters collect evidence from a crime scene.

“As farcical as this is, they’re actually using good physical evidence in this case,” Miller said as she watched the scene. “It’s a tool for keeping them engaged.”

Miller also keeps the students engaged by sprinkling her lectures with her quirky sense of humor.

“When you’re going to the crime scene ... take a known blood sample with you so that we’ll always be able to use that for comparison,” she calls out during a recent class as her students test a series of samples for hemoglobin. “Now, if that means having to stab your captain in order to get the blood, just make sure you ask nicely before you do it.”

Hands-on work also keeps the classes fun, Miller said. She uses foam rubber dummies, toy guns and pig blood to create mock crime scenes. Students learn blood stain pattern analysis, fingerprinting techniques and study crime scene photos from some of the cases Miller has worked on.

Her techniques seem to be working. One of her students and an aspiring CSI, Kevin Rawls, said while the job isn’t quite what he expected and a lot different from what it’s like on his favorite show, “CSI: Miami,” it still looks like a lot of fun.

And even though the shows may not be perfect, Miller said they’ve had one unexpected benefit:

“I actually got to say, ‘Hey mom! I’m cool now!”’

MORE FROM DRAMA

'The Tudors' turns bloodier in season 2

'The Tudors' turns bloodier in season 2 Michael — or is it Kevin — returns to 'Lost' Typo puts 'ER's' Julianna Margulies back on TV 'Wire' creator reflects on show's end Quiz: Is there a true fan in the ‘House’? How well do you know ‘CSI’s’ Gil Grissom?   Add Drama headlines to your news reader: