COSI - Columbus, Ohio's Dynamic Hands-On Science Center

Available Experts Sessions

Forensics: Latent Prints

October 9, 2009, 1:00pm ET
Grade Levels: 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: Forensics, Logic, Problem Solving, Scientific Method

Deborah Lanata, an Evidence Technician with the Columbus Police Detective Bureau, will show how a crime scene is dusted for prints, surfaces that work and don't work for latent fingerprint development, and tips and tricks to get good lifts from various surfaces. Deborah has FBI training in advanced latent print development and ten-print comparison. She also helps with teaching new police officers (the recruits) about proper crime scene procedures and first responder duties at crime scenes. Rob Lawson, the Columbus Police Latent Unit Supervisor, will discuss how the latent lifts Ms. Lanata brings him are examined and how they attempt to match the prints to a suspect.

Ms. Lanata has been with C.P.D. for over 14 years and regularly responds to crime scenes. She is also currently preparing to become certified by the International Association for Identification as a Crime Scene Analyst. Mr. Lawson has been with the Columbus Police Department for over 18 years He became supervisor of the Latent Unit in March 2003 and has taken many training classes through the F.B.I. and other police agencies. Mr. Lawson is a 2nd vice president with the O.I.O. (Ohio Identification Officers Association).

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on October 7 at 2:00pm ET.

*SOLD OUT* Forensic Psychology

October 19, 2009, 11:00am ET
Grade Levels: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: General knowledge of the study of psychology, social, and legal issues and current events as depicted in newspapers, magazines, and television.

Interested in learning more about the complex interface between mental illness and the criminal mind? Join Dr. Kukor to learn how individuals charged with crimes are psychologically evaluated to determine if they are mentally fit to stand trial and criminally responsible. In this interactive session, Dr. Kukor will guide participants through a step-by-step forensic analysis of a complex forensic case involving claimed insanity.

Terry Kukor Ph.D., ABPP (Forensic) is the Director of Forensic and Assessment Services for Netcare Corporation in Columbus, Ohio, a non-profit organization that provides crisis intervention and assessment services. He currently serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology of Miami University, and as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Drexel University. Dr. Kukor has performed hundreds of forensic evaluations, and conducts workshops on risk and threat assessment in both clinical and forensic contexts. He graduated with a BA in Psychology from Marquette University, and went on to earn a Master's and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Miami University. He is one of only 250 diplomates in forensic psychology in the country that have been certified by the American Board of Forensic Psychology.

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on October 19 at 2:00pm ET.

**SOLD OUT** Genetic Counseling: The Faces of Genetic Disease

October 27, 2009, 1:00pm ET
Grade Levels: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: Biology, Genetics, Ethics

Matt Pastore, pediatric genetic counselor at The Regional Genetics Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, will be discussing how genetics affects all of our lives. In pediatric genetics, children with various birth defects, delays, and/or significant family history are evaluated to determine if they have an underlying genetic cause. Genetic counseling for several common conditions will be presented, including risk assessment, genetic testing, and psychosocial counseling.

Students should have prior understanding of:
- Basic genetics
- DNA
- Genes
- Inheritance patterns, including multi-factorial inheritance

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on October 23 at 2:00pm ET.

Forensic Computing: The Intersection of Law and Technology

October 27, 2009, 11:00am ET
Grade Levels: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: Forensic computing, Data analysis, Internet security

The nightmare began when local and state police broke through the front door of the suburban home of a doctor and his family in a pre-dawn raid. Police analyzed the computer used by the doctor's seventeen-year-old son, an honors student halfway through his senior year of high school. This led to charges against the boy of four felonies and a misdemeanor. Father and son discussed the situation and vowed not to bow to pressure to enter into a plea bargain requiring the boy to admit guilt in a crime he did not commit. This is the story of how forensic computer analysis of the son's machine led the prosecutor to drop the charges and expunge the boy's record.

Forensic computer scientist Matt Curtin performed the analysis and prepared expert testimony for the court. He is the founder of Interhack Corporation, a pioneering forensic computing and information assurance firm based in Columbus, Ohio.

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on October 23 at 2:00pm ET.
learn more...

Forensic Handwriting Identification

November 5, 2009, 11:00am ET
Grade Levels: 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: Forensics, Logic, Problem Solving, Citizenship/Government

Kathleen Stuebe will present information on forensic document examination and handwriting identification as performed in crime laboratories. Using mock evidence, Ms. Stuebe will challenge your students to help solve a "crime" by analyzing handwriting. She will then demonstrate how this handwriting is examined in order to determine the identification of the writer. Ms. Stuebe has been a Forensic Document Examiner since 1999 and is a Criminalist at the Columbus Police Crime Laboratory.

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on November 3 at 2:00pm ET.

ELEMENTARY: Spiders Live! Arachnomania

November 19, 2009, 11:00am ET
Grade Levels: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
Subjects: Spiders, Habitats, Tarantulas

Ever see a spider up close? Meet COSI's tarantulas, conduct your own creepy crawly experiment, and learn more about the life of a spider. Traci Weaver, COSI's Creepy Crawly Curator, will show you up close and personal how cool spiders really are. Learn about their homes, their lifestyles, their favorite foods, and more!

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on November 16 at 2:00pm ET.

ELEMENTARY: Reptiles Live!

December 1, 2009, 2:00pm ET
Grade Levels: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
Subjects: Reptiles, Habitats, Adaptations

Ever see a reptile up close? Meet COSI's snakes, turtles, and lizards, conduct your own slithery, scaley experiment, and learn more about the life of a reptile. Traci Weaver, COSI's Creepy Crawly Curator, will show you up close and personal how cool reptiles really are. Learn about their homes, their lifestyles, their favorite foods, and more! You might even get to see a snake eat!

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on November 25 at 2:00pm ET.

Computers Working at the Speed of Light

December 3, 2009, 11:00am ET
Grade Levels: 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: Computers, Nanotechnology

Are you tired of waiting for your favorite songs, movies, or internet files to download? Imagine being able to retrieve a music file from the internet in the blink of an eye. How can future computers be developed to process information nearly instantaneously? Instead of depending on electric currents, tomorrow's computers will use beams of light!

Join Dr. Reano to learn how laser beams are being used on the nanoscale to develop not only faster computers, but also better sensors, speedier communications devices, and microscopic laboratories.

Dr. Reano holds Bachelor degrees in Physics and Electrical Engineering as well as Master and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The Ohio State University where his research focuses on integrated optics, hybrid wireless and photonic devices, and nanotechnology for next generation sensors, communications systems, and computing.

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on December 1 at 2:00pm ET.learn more...

Developing Exercise Training Programs

December 10, 2009, 9:00am ET
Grade Levels: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: Sports, Athletics, Physiology, Biology, Physical Education, Nutrition Science

Dr. Timothy Kirby, Associate Professor of the School of Physical Activity and Educational Services at The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology will discuss the physiological basis for developing a training program and the most effective techniques to improve performance in sports and exercise. Based on his perspective as a former collegiate coach and as an exercise physiologist, he will discuss training programs used by athletes at various levels of achievement, with suggestions for implementing programs for anyone wishing to perform at his/her best. Dr. Kirby will challenge the students to think and act from a science based perspective as they develop programs designed to improve performance and health.

Students should have prior understanding of: Basic biology, physiology and nutrition

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information packet sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on December 3 at 2:00pm ET.

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