Café Scientifique

Café Scientifique reaches out to teens in Santa Fe to engage them in science relevant to their lives. At this meeting of the group, they consider the following scenario: It is a late Fall afternoon and two hikers are enjoying a brisk walk in the mountains. They are miles from the nearest the town and miles from the nearest person. They go around a curve in the trail when suddenly they stumble across human remains. Who is this person? How did they get here? How did they die?

These are a few of the questions that forensic investigators are faced with, and the body has numerous clues that help answer these questions. By using forensic tools and mathematical equations, we can determine the sex, age and race of an individual. We can also identify trauma and natural diseases by examining the condition of the bones. With a group of Forensic Anthropologists and Scene Investigators from the Office of the Medical Investigator, we will learn about skeletal remains and examine several cases.

Speaker: Amy Wyman

Contact Information:
Michelle Hall
Science Education Solutions/ Institute for Science Education
4200 W Jemez Road, Suite 301-22
(505) 663-5365

For more information: NM Café Scientific