Schoolchildren put their arithmetic skills under the magnifying glass this weekend by using maths to solve a murder.
Youngsters from across the north-east took part in a Scottish Police Authority class on how police can use trigonometry to analyse blood splatters.
It was organised as part of this year’s TechFest Maths Masterclasses, designed to give young people insight into how the skills they learn in the classroom can be applied to real life situations.
In this instance, the group looked at the surface area and volume of blood droplets, and were shown how maths can be used to tell where the blood splatter came from.
SPA’s lead forensic scientist, Chris Gannicliffe, led the workshop.
He said: “Maths can be an invaluable skill in a forensic investigation.
“The patterns of blood spatter on a suspect’s clothing can provide clues about how a murder was committed, the weapon used and crucially, what role a suspect may have played in the crime.
“This is an interactive look at some of the analysis used by forensic scientists in a crime scene and a great introduction to anyone looking to pursue a career in forensics.”
TechFest is an Aberdeen-based charity which promotions science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects to young people and the wider community.
Every year the organisation hosts the TechFest Science Festival, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors to workshops, talks and other activities across the north-east.
Acting managing director, Alies Bartelds, said: “This workshop is a great example of how STEM skills learned in the classroom, like trigonometry, can be applied in a range of jobs, including a forensic investigator.”
