Crime Scene Investigation
During this project, we got to delve into forensics and investigating a crime scene. We investigated the supposed suicide of Aaron Lee. We investigated this crime by utilizing the forensics of the trajectory of a bullet, blood spatter, DNA processing, fingerprinting through iodine and superglue fuming, and overall using our noggins to solve and explore the crime scene. This project allowed for us to act like true CS investigators and become familiar with modern techniques used to investigate crimes. We began by taking photos of each piece of evidence with markers, and we were then whisked into the "detective" perspective. Each day we centered around inspecting different pieces of evidence and learned how DNA processing, fingerprinting, and other forensics work. Through our investigations, and the confession from Michelle Lee, we found out that Aaron Lee's death was not a suicide, but in fact a murder committed by his wife.
This project was very engaging for me and I thought that it was interesting to explore this specific area. Also, this project was set-up with real-life examples that were interesting, instead of just the elementary "who stole the stapler" type of example. It was intriguing and kept my attention because we used technologies to explore the scene. I could have done more to delve deeper into the forensics, I think. However, time was limited and I missed a few days of instruction. Also, I think that I worked well with my partner because we broke up the work that we needed to do efficiently so that it would all get done. Overall, I think the most interesting part of this project was when we got to find the trajectory of the bullet by putting a rod through the corpse to find where the bullet would have passed through. We also used string and connected them to each blood spatter to find the origin of impact. Analyzing this data was interesting because it in a sense for me helped me map out what would've happened at the actual time of the murder. Finding the trajectory of the bullet was vital to the investigation because were able to find that the victim was lying with his head down on the table when he was shot. This suggested that he did not shoot himself because the bullet not only went through his head, but also through his arm. Therefore, we can conclude that he was already dead when he was shot and the crime scene was set up to look like a suicide. In the end, we discovered that Lee's wife drugged him and then shot him. This project was very intriguing and overall I feel like I learned a lot more behind CSI and forensics, and I gained a deeper understanding than what you get to see on the telly.
This project was very engaging for me and I thought that it was interesting to explore this specific area. Also, this project was set-up with real-life examples that were interesting, instead of just the elementary "who stole the stapler" type of example. It was intriguing and kept my attention because we used technologies to explore the scene. I could have done more to delve deeper into the forensics, I think. However, time was limited and I missed a few days of instruction. Also, I think that I worked well with my partner because we broke up the work that we needed to do efficiently so that it would all get done. Overall, I think the most interesting part of this project was when we got to find the trajectory of the bullet by putting a rod through the corpse to find where the bullet would have passed through. We also used string and connected them to each blood spatter to find the origin of impact. Analyzing this data was interesting because it in a sense for me helped me map out what would've happened at the actual time of the murder. Finding the trajectory of the bullet was vital to the investigation because were able to find that the victim was lying with his head down on the table when he was shot. This suggested that he did not shoot himself because the bullet not only went through his head, but also through his arm. Therefore, we can conclude that he was already dead when he was shot and the crime scene was set up to look like a suicide. In the end, we discovered that Lee's wife drugged him and then shot him. This project was very intriguing and overall I feel like I learned a lot more behind CSI and forensics, and I gained a deeper understanding than what you get to see on the telly.
Community Connection
For biology this year, we needed to do something helpful for the community. One thing I am passionate about is helping at the Durango Humane Society and working with the animals there. Even after my 10th grade year, I hope to continue to help with this organization. Over the summer I will continue to walk dogs at the Humane Society and interact with the animals.
Dissection
This semester in biology, we got to dissect animals of our choice. We could chose from dissecting a cat, fetal pig, or shark. I chose to dissect a cat because it was the most challenging and had the closest anatomy to that of a human. Dissection was a very interesting process for me and kept me entertained the entirety of the project. Anatomy and biology of living creatures intrigues me greatly, and so it was amazing to dissect the cat and look at all of the internal organs. Our cat was pregnant as well, so we had to open the uterus and unwrap the kittens from the placenta.
Durango Nature Studies habitat Assessment Project
Project reflection
This project entailed our Animas High School classes going to Durango Nature Studies, a local non-profit organization with a goal of educating children and community members about local ecology, and studying the populations of leopard frogs, bullfrogs, and assessing the quality of the habitat on the property through water chemistry tests and veg plot data. We began this unit with studying invasive species and learning how to recognize different kinds of frogs based on their physical characteristics. We particularly paid attention to Rana pipiens (leopard frogs) and Rana catesbeiana (bullfrogs). Bullfrogs are invasive species that threaten the survival of native species such as leopard frogs. Invasive species are species that are introduced and not native to the environment and threaten the health of native species. It is important that bullfrogs are eradicated so that native species can survive. A diverse ecosystem means a more stable ecosystem! Animas students then went to the Durango Nature Studies property and took water quality tests that included testing the pH, phosphate, coliform, and dissolved oxygen levels of both the pond and the river. Students then took veg plot tests and visual encounter surveys of the leopard frogs and bullfrogs. Once this data was collected, it was time to analyze. We made graphs in Excel to organize our data and then we calculated the Shannon-Wiener Biodiversity Index for the organisms on the property. The data showed that no bullfrogs were sighted and also suggested that the pond and river were high in coliform and phosphate levels. We used all of our data and new knowledge to write a technical paper, or habitat assessment, of the Durango Nature Studies property.
Overall, I am quite satisfied with my final paper. However, it was not an easy road and I wish that I would have managed my time better on this project. The disease of procrastination has been plaguing me this year and it has been hard overall. I feel like I did a good job on my technical paper, but it probably could have been even better if I organized my time better.
Overall, I am quite satisfied with my final paper. However, it was not an easy road and I wish that I would have managed my time better on this project. The disease of procrastination has been plaguing me this year and it has been hard overall. I feel like I did a good job on my technical paper, but it probably could have been even better if I organized my time better.