Targeted Infusion Project: Fusing Social Science and Forensics to Enhance Preparedness for Modern Criminal Justice Careers

历史黑人学院和大学本科项目(HBCU-UP)通过有针对性的灌输项目，支持基于证据的创新模式和方法的开发、实施和研究，以改善HBCU本科学生的准备和成功，使他们能够攻读科学、技术、工程或数学(STEM)研究生课程和/或职业。中央州立大学社会和行为科学系(SBS)的这个项目旨在开发法医辅修课程，以化学、社会科学和行为科学之间的跨学科研究为特色，强调文化多样性和加强对与法医相关的STEM领域的了解。鉴于非裔美国人在法医领域的代表性不足，该项目利用HBCU的学生对法医的兴趣，通过基于证据的创新技术，包括基于探究的科学实验培训，增加劳动力多样性。该项目的目标包括：1)在以下每个领域开发一门新的法医课程-心理学、社会工作、人类学，2)建立法医研究实验室，以支持机构的技术能力，并作为法医课程的教学和学习空间，以及3)创建法医辅修课程，要求学生在多个STEM学科完成24个学期的学分。拟议的辅修学位课程将文化多样性和理解力方面的培训与支撑法医STEM领域的基本科学原则和方法相结合。必修和选修的法医科学化学使学生沉浸在法医毒理学、血清学和DNA分析中使用的基本实验室规则和方法中。此外，STEM社会科学课程，如犯罪现场分析和法医人类学导论，通过关注犯罪现场的证据收集方法，扩大了学生的STEM教育，使学生获得实践经验。预计扩大和加强法医机构学术课程的努力有可能有助于增加STEM领域的劳动力多样性。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) through Targeted Infusion Projects supports the development, implementation, and study of evidence-based innovative models and approaches for improving the preparation and success of HBCU undergraduate students so that they may pursue science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) graduate programs and/or careers. The project at Central State University’s Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) seeks to develop a Forensic Studies minor, featuring interdisciplinary studies between Chemistry, Social Sciences and Behavioral Sciences, emphasizing cultural diversity and enhanced understanding of STEM fields associated with forensics. Given that African Americans are underrepresented in forensic fields, this project leverages student interest in forensics at an HBCU to increase workforce diversity through evidence-based, innovative techniques including training in inquiry-based scientific experimentation.The objectives of this project include: 1) developing a new forensics course in each of the following fields - psychology, social work, anthropology, 2) establishing a Forensic Studies Laboratory to bolster the technological capacity of the institution and serve as a teaching and learning space for forensic courses, and 3) creating a Forensic Studies minor that requires students to complete 24 semester credit hours in multiple STEM disciplines. The proposed minor degree program combines training in cultural diversity and understanding with the basic scientific principles and methods that undergird forensic STEM fields. The required and elective forensic science chemistry immerses students in the fundamental laboratory rules and methodologies used in forensic toxicology, serology, and DNA analyses. In addition, STEM social science courses such as Crime Scene Analysis and Introduction to Forensic Anthropology expands students’ STEM education by focusing on the evidence collection methods at crime scenes, whereby students will gain hands on experience. It is anticipated that efforts to expand and strengthen the institutional academic offerings in forensics has the potential to contribute to increased workforce diversity in STEM fields.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.