Pictured are Law Enforcement students (L-R) Krysa Flowers (Firelands) and Jennie Langford (Elyria).

January 19, 2010 -- Lorain County JVS Law Enforcement and Security students participated in a unique video conference sponsored by The Ohio State University Medical Center and COSI.

Students watched a presentation by retired Forensic Pathologist Dr. Larry R. Tate who provided live commentary on the autopsy process.

The Law Enforcement students participated in hands-on activities before and after the videoconference to determine the toxicology and cause of death. Under the direction of JVS science instructor David Charles, the students tested synthetic body fluids looking for evidence of illegal substances. They also conducted lab tests using ballistics gel to try to look for residue from any type of weapons that may have been used.

The ultimate goal of the activities was for the students to determine the cause of death of the "victim."

"This distance learning experience incorporated science and technology, giving my students the opportunity to learn from a very successful professional in the forensics field," stated Charles. "The lecture, coupled with the hands-on activities, let them play the role of toxicologist, pathologist, and forensic scientist -- some of the career opportunities many of the students are exploring."