The use of forensics to track pathogens and perform ballistics studies recently was featured on the “STEM Journals,” with cameos by several Northern Arizona University professors, researchers and students.
The educational program, sponsored by Science Foundation Arizona and the Arizona SciTech Festival, is aimed at inspiring middle and high school students to enter the fields of science, engineering, math and technology.
Featured in the forensics episode from NAU’s Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics are: Paul Keim, director and NAU Regents Professor; Joseph Busch, assistant director; Christopher Allender, senior research specialist and biology doctoral student; and biomedical science, chemistry and health pre-professional majors Christian Hochhalter and Sally Statham.
Christopher Mann, associate professor of physics and astronomy, and Glenn Pagano, graduate teaching assistant and master’s student in applied physics, discuss advances in ballistics identification that uses 3D imaging and algorithms to help solve crimes.
Watch the full episode and a supplemental segment on microbial forensics.