Spring into Science

"Spring into Science"

The Siena/AMC and Biology students participate in "Spring into Science," a program which allows private school students in grades 6, 7, and 8 to explore various areas of science and math. The objective of this event is to encourage middle school students to continue taking classes in the sciences once they reach high school. Spending the day with college students and professionals in scientific fields allows these children to see all the exciting places that science can take them. 

In Siena CSI, the students are given a crime scenario and provided with the evidence found at the crime scene. Through hands-on interaction, they then go about determining which of the suspects is guilty using a matrix and through careful analysis of such things as fingerprint, DNA, blood type, hair and fiber samples, and chemical reactions.

Siena CSI: 2008

Heather and Nik explaining the mystery and the science behind the experiments to a group of students

Marissa, Nik and Aman preparing for the experiment

Deedee setting up an experiment

Roshni and Kiko proudly showing their experiment

Katie showing a boy how to perform the experiment

A group picture

Siena CSI: 2007

Indira, Victoria and Amy presenting the mystery case the students are going to solve.

Erica explaining an experiment

Sobia helping two boys perform an experiement

A group photo

Siena CSI: 2006

Melissa, Sobia, Joe, Greg, and Aman present this year's mystery for the detectives to solve.

Liz and Alex teach how a dissecting microscope is used to analyze hair and fiber samples.

Claire, Ali, Karen, and Shyama working with a particularly excited group. The experiments include an indicator test, finger print analysis with UV light, chemical identification, and hair and fiber sample analysis.

Greg and Melissa interest a few kids with the indicator test which reveals the secret ingredient needed to solve the crime.

Siena CSI: 2005

John Gall and Claire Birone present the suspects and evidence to the young detectives.

Greg Perry helps these young students with some analysis.

This girls puzzle over various fiber types found at the crime scene.

Young scientists, with Claire's guidance, examine fingerprints under UV light.

Siena CSI: 2004

Sobia, Greg (who obviously isn't afraid to show his school spirit), Scotty, and Mike explain how a matrix is used to match evidence to suspects and rule out possibilities.

After they finished analyzing the hair samples at this station, Claire (left) would encourage the students to check out various other subjects, such as their fingers and eye lashes, under the scopes- who knows what they'd find! 

Below, Joany shows these students the amazing reactions that can occur when certain chemicals are mixed. In this case, they are analyzing vinegar and baking soda.