While the word “botany” inspires images of hot houses and neatly pressed flowers for some, emeritus Professor David Norris imagines something entirely different: grisly crimes, cold cases and victims’ last meals.
And this is precisely the gory realm he will explore with area teens in the next Teen Science Café from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the CU Museum of Natural History’s lower level BioLounge. Participants will learn about the field of forensic botany and learn how Norris and his partner have helped solve crimes in Colorado and around the world using classical botanical laboratory and field techniques.
“CSI Botany: Using Plants to Solve Crimes,” run by CU Science 鶹Ƶy, is free and open to teens ages 13 to 18. Due to limited space, RSVP is required at.
The Teen Science Café is part of a national push to get more young people involved in science, technology, engineering and math (or STEM) subjects.
Norris, an emeritus professor of integrative physiology and forensic botanist, has studied the effects of environmental influences acting through the brain and the endocrine system in vertebrates for more than 40 years. His research and consulting work in forensic botany includes the identification of plant food materials in gastric, intestinal and fecal samples from homicide victims and related forensic uses of plants.
In December, the café will highlight the lives of early humans in the Boulder Valley and feature a behind-the-scenes exploration of the 13,000-year-old tools on display at the CU Museum of Natural History with Douglas Bamforth, CU-Boulder anthropology professor.
CU Science 鶹Ƶy is CU-Boulder’s science education outreach program administered by Division of Continuing Education. Its Teen Science Cafés offer Colorado teenagers the opportunity to meet and interact with CU-Boulder scientists throughout the school year in fun and informal settings.
To learn more about CU Science 鶹Ƶy, Teen Science Café and upcoming events, visitor contact Alexandra Rose atalexandra.rose@colorado.eduto be added to the email list.