NRCC to host forensic science lab open house Aug. 20
A student examines the peaks of a chemical compound on the FTIR machine. Photo courtesy of NRCC
With fall-semester classes beginning later this month, New River Community College is preparing several events to welcome both new and continuing students.
Those interested in forensic science will have a unique opportunity to explore NRCC’s newly updated forensics laboratory during an open house Monday, Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Some of the technology on display will include gas chromatographs, gas chromatograph/mass spectrometers, a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer/Attenuated Total Reflectance machine, and a UV/Visible Light Spectrophotometer.
Students use specialized software to identify a plastic by comparing the results of an unknown sample with known chemical compounds stored in a database. Photo courtesy of NRCC
“During the open house, I plan on having some drug analyses and arson accelerants analyses running on the gas chromatographs and the GC/Mass Spectrometers,” said Dennis DuBuc, NRCC associate professor of administration of justice. “I’ll also demonstrate some plastic identifications on the FTIR/ATR and commonly found chemicals on the FTIR and UV/Visible Light Spectrophotometer.”
DuBuc also plans to display samples of bullet and cartridge casings under comparison microscopes, demonstrate hair and fiber analyses with compound microscopes and showcase different fingerprint collection techniques.
“I’ll have the whole lab complex open so folks will be able to see what we do in our courses,” he said.
Dennis DuBuc (left) shows helps students run a sample on a UV/Vis Spectrophotometer and use the database software to identify the chemical compound being analyzed. Photo courtesy of NRCC
Individuals may visit any time during the hours of the event. More information about administration of justice programs at NRCC, including forensic science, is available by clicking here.
Two “New Student Day” events will also take place in the coming weeks – the first on Monday, Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at NRCC’s New River Valley mall site in Christiansburg and the second at the campus in Dublin on Thursday, Aug. 23, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Class schedules are available at nr.edu/schedule.
– Submitted by Amanda Allen, NRCC
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