From Evidence to Insight: How Forensic Science Is Captivating Warwick Students

From Evidence to Insight: How Forensic Science Is Captivating Warwick Students

At Warwick High School, science class is starting to look a little more like a crime lab, and students can’t get enough of it.

Thanks to the Fostering Future Forensic Scientists grant, the forensics unit in science teacher Krista Roe’s biotechnology class has been transformed into a fully immersive experience.

“The 2024-2025 school year was the first year we ran a College Preparatory Biotechnology class. At the end of our course, I gave students a survey about the class, and one common theme was evident: students absolutely loved the forensic unit,” Krista shared.

Motivated by the response, Krista applied for a Warwick Education Foundation grant to expand the unit with three hands-on forensic labs (DNA fingerprinting, footprint analysis, and ink analysis) along with five integrated electrophoresis units.

“This grant allows students to experience real-world crime scene investigations, not just learn about them,” Krista explained.

Previously, limited equipment meant students had to rotate through stations or observe while others conducted experiments. Now, every student can participate directly, creating a smoother course flow and deeper engagement.

The impact in the classroom has been immediate and energizing. Just recently, students spent nine consecutive days immersed in forensic work, building and analyzing evidence from multiple angles. In two of the labs, they became part of the story themselves, rolling their own fingerprints and creating casts of their shoeprints to compare against “crime scene” evidence.

One lab even turned into a school-wide mystery. “We incorporated fellow science teachers as the suspects,” Krista said. “Students especially loved trying to identify which teacher committed the crime. It made everything feel more fun and realistic.”

The grant also opened doors for creative instruction by incorporating the AI app, Gemini. With the app, students learned how to create digital storybooks to tell their crime investigation stories and ultimately reveal the guilty party. This blend of science, technology, and storytelling helps students stay engaged while sharpening their observational and analytical skills. (HERE is one of the stories.)

Student feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with 100% surveyed saying that the forensic labs should remain part of the course next year.

Why? Impactful experiences like this help students see science as dynamic, relevant, and within reach. By stepping into the role of forensic investigators, they are learning more than science; they’re building confidence, curiosity, and critical thinking skills that will shape their futures.

Thank you to our donors for helping us enrich Warwick classrooms and bring learning to life in meaningful ways for students across the district.