Chemistry Approach to Applying Forensic Science Knowledge in Society: Do you want to be a CSI?
Forensic science; Chemistry teaching; Fingerprint; MEV; Developer.
Forensic science covers different areas of knowledge, among which we highlight and will address specifically chemistry. The growing interest in forensic science is due to television series that explore the stages of the investigative process through the work of criminal experts who use tools and demonstrate the performance of analyzes that collaborate to elucidate crimes. With the state of the pandemic in recent years, it has been observed that the teaching-learning process has been greatly affected, since the closure of educational units and, consequently, the suspension of all school activities, make it difficult for students in their final years to access university. from highschool. The academic debate about methodological approaches that contribute to the teaching and learning of chemistry is common, therefore, it is feasible to explore the curiosity around forensic science to introduce these students to the academic daily life through scientific research, demonstrating in practice the steps of development of materials that can bring benefits to society relating to contents previously discussed in chemistry classes, providing access to different analysis techniques and modern equipment that are not easily accessible, such as the scanning electron microscope (SEM). In addition to knowing its functionality, through the MEV students can visualize the minutiae of the work carried out. This work has sought to develop an alternative latent fingerprint developer to existing commercial developers, also using them in experimental chemistry classes in basic education. The selected powders went through a process of standardization and subsequent characterization, after the analyzes it was verified the potential of these materials as developers on the different surfaces tested. After this first stage, an exhibition was held for high school students from public schools in Alagoas with the execution of latent fingerprint development experiments. In this moment of interaction with the students, a daily problem situation was exposed, through which the chemical interactions that occur in the process of developing fingerprints were discussed, relating theory and practice. Thus, in addition to producing low-cost and toxic revealing material, it will also be possible to contribute to the teaching-learning process of chemistry using research, experimentation and forensic science as a methodological approach.