08.07.2005
A six day summer school, organised by the University of Brighton and looking at the study of crime - Cracking Crime: An Intelligent Investigation - will give over forty 16 year olds a taste of university life.
The project, aimed at potential A-level students with no family history of higher education, is intended to help them decide whether university is right for them.
The summer school runs from Sunday 10 to Friday 15 July and the whole experience is planned to resemble the process of actually going to university, with a mock application process as part of the study and a graduation ceremony at the end.
Highlights of the week include:
- Profiling criminals - "Cracker" style.
- Find the Laundered Money - students act as consultants to pursue money thought to have been salted away by a criminal gang. A trail of clues are hidden 'somewhere on the internet'.
- Crimes against the environment. One of the many hidden crimes that go unnoticed is industrial pollution. Dr Huw Taylor leads research that aims to identify the causes of water pollution, and then to locate those responsible. The session will start with the collection of water sample from the sea at Brighton followed by analysis in the lab.
- Computer Hacking - the past, present and future of computer crime and the impact on different sectors of society, for instance, business and children. What can be done to stop it?
- Crime in the press. How do we find out about crime? How is crime reported?
- Performance enhancing drugs. Introductory talk on drugs focusing on the affects on the body, followed by fitness and health checks. The objective of the session is to educate the participants about the dangers of drugs and the negative effects they can have on the body.
- Forensics. This workshop will provide an opportunity for students to use the latest analytical techniques to investigate the analysis of drug substances, metal contamination and fabrics.
As well as seminars there will be a sports afternoon in Eastbourne, and a variety of free time activities.
Darren Beaney, Summer School manager said, "This is our fourth summer school and we go from strength to strength with more students and more funding this year than ever before."
"The summer school is playing an important part in the university's work to make higher education a realistic opportunity for more people."
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton,
01273 643022
