CSI 101 : New Formats for Broader Audiences
By Erin Mercado , Mind Mover
The versatile CSI 101 program continues to provide new mysteries and storylines for participants of all ages to solve , but what ’ s new for 2017 ?
MIND MOVING MOMENTS
Last February 4 and 11 saw the first sessions of CSI Saturdays , a one-hour activity for participants 9-years-old and above , that walk-in guests could add on to their museum visits .
The guests signed up for a session based on what crime they wanted to solve : either The Mystery of the Masked Burglar ( February 4 ) or The Case of the Creepy Clown ( February 11 ).
After a briefing on how to investigate the case , the guests now had to search for the clues and evidence scattered throughout the galleries ! For instance , they could take a picture of the suspect ’ s shoeprints , and measure it to see if it would match the size of his feet .
The guests then analyzed the evidence in the Mind Lab , and pieced the clues together to finally solve the case . In just the span of a few hours , they were not only able to explore the Museum ’ s galleries with their ticket , they were also able to learn forensic science techniques , such as how to reveal hidden fingerprints !
Of course , the adults weren ’ t left out of the fun . The second CSI 101 : Crime of Passion was held the very next week , on February 18 , providing barkadas ( group of friends ) a unique and educational way to enjoy the Valentine ’ s season without any of the cheesiness .
This year , Crime of Passion employed a different format for the competition : instead of going into a series of rooms and accomplishing tasks to obtain clues , each team had to really act like detectives and use their deduction skills to choose which of the stations ( e . g . DNA , Autopsy , Ballistics , Fingerprints ) would provide them with leads . Every station provided them with tasks to accomplish that would bring them closer to finding out the identity of the killer .
Because the teams were free to choose which stations they would proceed to , they had to strategize and manage their time efficiently to finish before the time was up ! Their last step was to submit their police report to the lead investigator , so that the winning team could be decided . While only one team could win the competition , all the participants had a great time .
CSI Saturdays and Crime of Passion are just two of the many exciting programs that The Mind Museum has in store for its guests this year .
For more information on CSI 101 , please email erin . mercado @ themindmuseum . org .
3