Our Level 2 and Level 3 Applied Science students have taken their learning beyond the classroom with a fascinating two-day workshop exploring the world of forensic science.
Led by Dany Green, also known as Sherlock Bone, the workshops gave our students the opportunity to develop their scientific knowledge through hands-on activities focused on forensic anthropology and forensic facial reconstruction.
The first session explored forensic anthropology and the important role it plays in forensic investigations and human identification. Working with real human skeletons, our students developed practical skills used to build a biological profile, exploring human osteology, estimating sex and age at death, calculating living stature, and identifying skeletal and dental pathology.
The second day focused on the fascinating and sometimes controversial field of forensic facial reconstruction. Our students explored the different methods used in forensic investigations and considered how facial reconstruction can be used in a range of scenarios.
They then put what they had learned into practice, completing both 2D and 3D facial reconstructions while working through relevant case studies.
For our students, the workshops offered a chance to experience a different side of Science and explore how the knowledge they develop at college could be used beyond the classroom.
Level 3 Applied Science student Safeena Stephenson said: “It’s really nice to be able to do this kind of practical work. It helps you understand what you might actually be doing at university and gives you a better idea of what the subject is really like.
“I really like seeing this side of Science because it shows you that it’s not all just experiments, test tubes and Bunsen burners. There are so many different areas you can go into, and I really like the forensic side of it.”
Fellow student Evie Sikorska, the practical element of the workshop was one of the highlights.
She said: “I had a great time with the workshop. I thought it was really fun and I love doing stuff like this. I really like practicals – they’re my favourite part – so I’ve had a really good time today.
“Science has always been a passion of mine, and now I’ve finally got the chance to pursue it. I’m continuously learning new things, and that’s one of my favourite things to do.”
The workshops also gave our students the chance to explore potential career pathways and see how the subjects they are studying could be applied in real-world forensic work.
For Dany, the workshops are about more than developing our students’ scientific knowledge.
“The workshops support the Applied Science and Forensic Science curriculum that the students are studying, but they also provide an element of enrichment and raise their aspirations by showing them careers and opportunities that they might not otherwise have considered.”
Dany was also impressed by our students’ attitude and the work they produced during the workshops.
“It’s always lovely to come back to Hull College. I really like it here, and it’s been a really lovely group of students to work with.
“Forensic Facial Reconstruction requires a lot of patience, and sometimes students don’t always have it. However, this group just cracked on and were fantastic to work with. It was an absolute pleasure to work with them, and I was really impressed with the work they did.”
For our Applied Science students, the two-day experience was a chance to put their knowledge into practice, explore an area of science they might not encounter in everyday lessons, and discover more about where their studies could take them in the future.
Study Applied Science at Hull College
Studying Applied Science gives you the chance to explore, experiment, and discover a field that’s always evolving. If you love problem-solving, investigating how things work, and spotting the details that make a difference, this is the subject for you.
See how science is used in a wide range of careers, industries, and even everyday life. Discover more about our courses here.
