CSI: THE EXPERIENCE

CSI: THE EXPERIENCE

   Let's talk fun.

   On a recent trip to Las Vegas, a friend and I visited the CSI: THE EXPERIENCE exhibit at MGM. To quote their advertisement, "Just like your favorite CSI character, you too can play the role of a crime scene investigator…"

   I have to be honest, I'm not a big CSI fan, but I really enjoyed playing detective. As soon as we "registered" we were briefed, given "official" CSI crime investigation vests, a clipboard and a crime scene worksheet for notes.

    There were three different possible crimes to solve. Because this was out first visit, we were assigned to crime scene number 1.

    First stop, the actual crime scene. I took copious [that means a lot] notes, sketched the crime scene, and tried to spot all the little details that might be overlooked by the casual observer. I actually wrote down a whole lot more notes than I needed.

   Next stop, Lab 1. Then . . . on to Lab 2. Lastly, a visit with the coroner for an autopsy report. At each stop, we were challenged to carefully examine the forensic evidence collected at the crime scene. Fibers. Fingerprints. DNA. Toxicology. And more. Plus, forensic experts explained various investigative information like blood spatter analysis to help solve the crime.

   At the last stop, we had to file our reports based on the information gathered, the forensic evidence discovered, and to name our suspect.

    Not to brag, after my two-hour detecting experience, I successfully named the culprit and officially received LEVEL ONE CSI AGENT status.

   "The exhibit was developed by the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History along with Bob Weis Design Island Associates with support from CBS Consumer Products, the cast and crew of the television show, and the National Science Foundation."

   Sixth graders and up, like grown-up-adult-kids like me, will enjoy taking the CSI: The EXPERENCE challenge.

   I know I did.