Nico l's Senior Project Blog

Project Title: Lights, Camera, Investigation: Documenting a Forensics Lab
BASIS Advisor: Kelly Schneider
Internship Location: Forensic Anthropology, ASU
Onsite Mentor: Dr. Katelyn Bolhofner, Assistant Professor



Project Abstract

America loves true crime. Forensics has entered the greater public consciousness in a massive way over the past 30 years, yet nobody seems to want to learn about anything past crime scene investigation and police thrillers. Most people also do not know that forensics is composed of several different interdisciplinary fields. I intend to showcase one of these fields, forensic anthropology. I am going to film both what is physically done in bone and body analysis, and interview the people who work in this relatively unknown field, in order to bring their stories and experience to light. This will all coalesce into an informational video that will be intended to be used in classrooms and will also be available on YouTube.

    My Posts:

  • Teeth: Shoring Up the Final Project

    Hey guys, another not so interesting week here. This week I will be going out to ASU again where I will probably be looking at a decomposition lab, which will be much more exciting in contrast to having to work on my final project over the next couple of days. Watching videos is fun but... Read More

  • Mandible: Nearing Conclusion

    Hey everyone, here we are approaching the endgame for the project. Of late I have been working on video editing techniques and I made the first rough draft of the script, of which I can provide a copy if so desired. I also did a quick interview with the Gilbert PD, of which I interviewed... Read More

  • Cervical Vertebrae: Wildlife Forensics and Video Progress

    Hello all, and welcome to another week of interesting shenanigans. This week is more exciting than the last, as I was able to get out to the lab again finally, although I was not able to meet with the on site mentor; on the flipside I was able to take FOR 394 Wildlife forensics, with... Read More

  • Thoracic Vertebrae: A Change in Course

    This week I have, with some help, decided to steer my project more towards the anthropological side of forensic anthropology, as this would allow me to utilize museums such as the Arizona Natural History Museum in Mesa, which has been one of my favorite museums to visit here, although it was usually for the dinosaurs... Read More

  • Growing Pains in the Lumbar Vertebrae: Not So Light Reading

    Last week was uneventful to say the least. My attempts to arrange another time with my site advisor are not very fruitful, as it usually takes a day or so communicating over email to establish communication. I can't blame her as she is an assistant professor and has her own research and work to do... Read More

  • Saccrum and Coccyx: Video refinement and further labs

    Hey all, this week is nothing too special. I am still going to be working with my faculty advisor and helping in the lab, this week focusing more on anthropological techniques rather than an introduction to anthropology, and I am also going to take the time to practice video editing a little. I'm still deciding... Read More

  • Femur and Ilium: Reading Reading Reading

    Hello, and welcome back to another installment of forensics. I'm your host, Nico, and today I will be taking a break from normal programming to announce that I am not taking a break this week. I will be working this week both on specific study of forensic anthropology, as well as learning about the work... Read More

  • Tibia and Fibula: Movie Magic

    Hey guys, this week I am going to take a detour in subject matter and start on the final project side of things. Since I intend to make videos on what I will be doing over the next few weeks, I thought it would be prudent to actually get to know how to make documentary/informational... Read More

  • Tarsals and Metatarsals: Introduction to Forensic Anthropology

    Hello everybody, my name is Nico and welcome back to another senior project blog post. Today I am going to be filling you in on what is to come and what I have already done. To start, I'll explain my title and that first sentence. I am going to title all my posts after human... Read More

  • So it begins: Putting together skeletons figuratively and literally

    Hello all, and welcome to the project I will be calling home for the next 10 weeks. Regarding my title, my project revolves entirely around forensic anthropology, which is the examination of human skeletal remains for the purpose of crime solving. “Putting together skeletons figuratively and literally” is a combination of what I intend to... Read More