The forensic educational outreach initiative - Bridging the gap between education and workplace

Skills and knowledge gaps frequently exist between forensic educational programs and practical forensic laboratory needs. An educational outreach project involving three post-secondary academic institutions and a large multidisciplinary forensic laboratory was created to provide lectures to students, enable mentorship with forensic scientists, and provide an interactive experience within the forensic laboratory. Mentorship mixer exercises encouraged meaningful interactions between students and scientists, creating opportunities for practical discussion on employment requirements, optimal class selections based on students' interests and forensic science requirements, and better understanding of the daily tasks and duties of operational forensic scientists. Feedback from students, professors, and forensic mentors have resulted in program improvements which will inform the educational outreach initiative going forward, including broader community outreach.