Cryptology is the study of the codes and ciphers used to create secret writing. In this math course, students begin their journey with an exploration of many early techniques for creating secret writing, such as cipher wheels, the Caesar shift, polyalphabetic substitution, and the Vigenère cipher. They move on to learn about modern techniques including RSA public key cryptography, as students explore how data transmitted by computers can be secured with digital encryption. Discussions about the vulnerabilities of each encryption system enable students to attack and decrypt messages using techniques such as frequency analysis and cribbing. Students apply the concepts learn to encrypt and decrypt their own secret messages.

Though the course’s central focus is on the mathematics of cryptology, the historical context of cryptography and cryptographic devices is provided to further develop an understanding of this branch of mathematics. For example, students examine the design and fallibility of the Enigma Machine, one of the most important cryptographic devices in history.

Hey there future, detectives! Are you ready to dive into the exhilarating world of forensics’ science and crack some mind-bending cases? Throughout this interactive course, aspiring young detectives will embark on a journey to understand how chemical analysis plays a crucial role in solving crimes. From analyzing mysterious substances to deciphering hidden clues at crime scenes, you’ll learn the essential skills used by forensic chemists to crack even the toughest cases.

Fingerprint lifting, blood typing, hair, fiber, soil and food analysis are just some of the criminalistics that will be introduced! You’ll learn everything about fundamental but nifty techniques that help CSI investigators sniff out clues and identify the perpetrator, such as titration, chromatography, spectroscopy, DNA electrophoresis. But wait, there’s more! Did you know that forensic scientists can determine a person’s age by analyzing their bones? You’ll explore the fascinating world of forensic anthropology and learn how to estimate the age and gender of skeletal remains—just like a real-life bone detective.

Your skills will be put to the test as you tackle thrilling crime scenarios, from mysterious burglaries to dastardly poisonings. You’ll work in teams to collect and analyze evidence, follow leads, and catch the culprit before they strike again!

So, if you’re ready to unlock the secrets of forensics and become the ultimate crime-solving superstar, join us in “CSI @CTY ” and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime! Because with a little chemistry know-how, anything is possible!

Learning Objectives:

• Collect, handle and analyze different types (fingerprints, blood, DNA, fibers, glass, bullets, etc) of evidence
• Identify, perform and report scientifically, analytical chemistry techniques 
• Write a forensics report using data to support findings reached after reviewing the available evidence.
• Understand chemistry topics needed for the proposed forensic skills 

You meet a new friend at CTY who teaches you a dice game. The rules are simple: if you roll a 4, you win and the game ends. If your friend rolls a 5, she wins and the game ends. You take turns rolling until one person wins. If you roll first, what is the probability that you will win the game? There are several ways to solve this problem, and the answer is not obvious.

In this course, students develop a greater understanding of probability and statistics, two areas of mathematics that easily transfer from the classroom to the real world. Students conduct experiments and generate data which they display in graphs, charts, and tables in order to compare the effects of particular variables. For example, students might analyze data to examine how various design characteristics of a paper airplane, such as weight or length, affect the distance it will travel. In addition, students consider other data sources, including newspapers and journals, and identify examples of incorrectly gathered or misrepresented data that have been used to mislead consumers or influence voters.

Students also explore probability, the study of chance, to learn how to use numerical data to predict future events. Students examine permutations and combinations; develop strategies for calculating the number of possible outcomes for various events; calculate probabilities of independent, dependent, and compound events; and learn to distinguish between theoretical and experimental probability.