“When we attract a diversified group of young people to STEM areas,
we’re maximizing our intellectual potential”
Rich Fox knows how to get people of all ages engaged and makes learning fun. He’s on a mission to make science relevant and interesting, simply by using the magic of science to show people how to solve crimes and mysteries.
A criminal forensics expert and science teacher, Fox’s high school forensics classes in Las Vegas and Boston have proved wildly popular – waitlists have topped 300 students. He’s also designed science programs for a range of ages and formats, from traditional to summer camps, workshops, and seminars.
Before CSI: Las Vegas even aired, Fox was a high school teacher in Las Vegas when he was given a challenge – make an existing high school law program interesting. His answer? Science! Show real ways science is applied to support law enforcement, using a hands-on approach to get kids engaged.
He did this through training at top-notch scientific facilities, interviewing leading experts, and establishing partnerships. Some examples:
* Interviewing top experts in forensics specialties like DNA matching at the Human Genome Project
* Visiting the Human Remains I.D. Lab
* Training at Oakridge National Labs
* Partnering with the Las Vegas Police Department
Fox believes in the value of making science interesting to people of all backgrounds, especially those who are underrepresented in the “STEM” fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and made this one of his goals as a teacher. Says Fox, “When we attract a diversified group of young people to STEM areas, we’re maximizing our intellectual potential.”
