HSA 25th Anniversary

Enter a mock crime scene and discover how forensic scientists use different types of evidence to solve crimes. Follow the clues, investigate the evidence, and uncover the science behind forensic investigations.

1. Dead Giveaways: Forensic Pathology Uncovered. Step into the world of forensic pathology through hands-on activities, real histology slides, and a fascinating display of instruments and unique cases.
2. Soil Clues: Every Grain Tells a Story! Discover how even tiny grains of soil can provide valuable clues linking crime scenes and suspects! Take on three soil-matching challenges and see if your eyes can rival scientific instruments in spotting subtle colour differences!
3. Step Into the Blind Zone! Put on a Virtual Reality (VR) headset and see the world from a driver’s perspective. Learn how blind spots can hide people and objects from view. 
4. The Sole Witness. Discover how shoeprints are revealed using different lighting angles and how they can help in crime investigations!
5. Tiny Clues, Big Discoveries. Explore how forensic scientists find and examine tiny pieces of evidence such as fibres, paint fragments, glass fragments and unknown substances, to help solve crimes.
6. Hidden Patterns Under Special Light. Discover hidden patterns and marks inside plastic bags when viewed under polarised light! 
7. What's That Stain? Discover how forensic scientists investigate mysterious stains found at crime scenes to find out if they could be blood or other body fluids.
8. DNA Detectives: Process the DNA! Learn how forensic scientists turn body fluid samples collected from crime scenes into DNA profiles that could provide important clues!
9. DNA Detectives: Who's the Culprit? Whose DNA was left at the crime scene? Compare the DNA profile from the scene with those of the suspects and see if you can find a match!
10. Can You Pipette Like a Forensic Scientist? Think you have a steady hand? Try using a micropipette, a tool scientists use to accurately transfer tiny amounts of liquid.

Discover how scientists uncover and identify harmful substances through fun, interactive activities. Learn how science helps keep people safe by learning about the dangers of vaping and other harmful substances and see how science makes a difference in our everyday lives.

1. Drug Detectives: From Use to Detective. Explore educational posters, complete fun challenges in your activity booklet, and discover the science behind drug testing of body samples and the dangers of drug use.
2. Can You Trust Your Eyes? Put your eyes to the test and see how harmful substances like hallucinogens can affect the way people see and make simple tasks harder to do.
3. Explore Our Laboratory and Discover Hidden Clues! Think you know how vaping and unsafe health products can affect your body? Put your knowledge to the test and uncover surprising facts about their harmful effects. Then, discover how scientists uncover hidden clues through laboratory testing to detect unsafe substances and identify counterfeit products.

Registration required; subject to availability as slots are limited. Register early to avoid disappointment.

Explore exciting laboratory techniques such as chromatography, pH testing, filtration and centrifugation through fun, hands-on activities. Discover how scientists use these tools to uncover clues, solve problems and help keep our community safe.

1. Rainbow Science in a Tube: Watch colours magically separate and reveal the hidden colours inside as you explore the science of chromatography.
2. Acid or Base? Test different samples, watch the colour changes, and discover whether they are acidic or alkaline while learning about the science of pH.
3. From Dirty to Detectable, Filter Like a Forensic Scientist. Ever wondered how scientists tell whether someone has taken drugs by testing their urine? Try a simple filtration activity and discover how drugs and their metabolites can be separated from other substances in urine to help uncover important clues.
4. Blood in a Spin! What happens when blood goes for a super-fast spin? See centrifugation in action and learn how scientists separate the different parts of blood to uncover important information.