Forensic Chemistry and Its Flip Side

Forensic chemistry is the focus of this year's National Chemistry Week and a strengthening and growing discipline of research and teaching. Forensic science deals mainly with the aftermath of crime. The flip side is the science of eliminating or ameliorating violent acts before they happen. In our laboratories and classrooms, are there ways to address the targeted violence and terrorism that fill the news cycle and generate fear in us and our students? While we have conversations on our individual campuses, a conversation among us chemistry educators on a regional or national scale would be even more helpful.