Students explore workshops

LORETTO - Aubri Conrad, a sophomore at Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School, entered the world of crime scene investigation Tuesday.

Conrad and other students from across the region got to check fingerprints and analyze evidence to solve a mock murder mystery.

"CSI Loretto: What Does a Forensic Chemist Do?" was part of St. Francis University's effort to promote what professors say is an endangered species - American scientists.

Conrad said she enjoyed the CSI experience.

More than 430 students from 26 area schools participated in the university's 16th annual Science Day. The event included a Science Bowl competition and 41 hands-on demonstrations for the students.

Chemistry professor Rose Clark guided the CSI class.

"We really want more people going into science," she said because not enough United States scientists are coming up through the ranks. "Science is a challenging career."

Biology professor Marian Langer oversaw students exploring parts of animals such as their muscular systems, hearts and digestive systems.

"A lot of students are afraid of it," she said. "Science scares them."

There's nothing to fear on either end, though.

University students got their chance to act as teacher, and high school students got to interact with college students and try the field firsthand, Langer said.

The science day was sponsored by St. Francis's Science Outreach Center, which support kindergarten through high school education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and attract students to the field.