Teaching has many benefits for the instructor that are worth consideration. If a forensic scientist is at a stage in his or her career where continuing education or experience in a particular area or in several different areas of the field is appealing, the time spent in preparation for lectures allows for exposure to different disciplines and knowledge enhancement. Additionally, there are instances in which a student may ask valid questions which the instructor may not have considered, thus prompting the instructor to research additional information for future lectures and personal knowledge. Compensation can vary widely depending upon the type of instruction being provided, ranging from complimentary snacks and the personal gratification of sharing information about forensic science with the general public at a local museum, to financial compensation usually associated with teaching college level courses.

In order to get a realistic understanding of the demands of teaching, it is important to recognize that the degree of commitment to teaching is dependent upon the type and extent of instruction being requested. Attending a local career fair or giving a guest lecture may require a few hours of preparation to organize thoughts and materials, while teaching a college level course is substantially more demanding. The instructor typically must commit to either a semester or year-based contract, and must guarantee availability for frequently scheduled administrative functions, regularly scheduled office hours, as well as the lecture times.

Additionally, the instructor must be prepared to spend the necessary time in lecture, laboratory (if applicable) and examination preparation, as well as grading student projects and examinations. The actual number of hours required for these tasks will vary widely depending upon the number of courses and students being taught.

Professionals interested in teaching material pertaining to forensic science can enjoy the fact that it is a subject with a high level of public interest and a topic that students find inherently fascinating. Due to frequent scientific advances, the material being taught often needs to be updated to include new techniques and case studies, which keeps information interesting for both the instructor and the students. The instructor may not know the impact a course has made on students until a semester later when a student calls to let the instructor know that the student appreciated the course and that it made a difference in his or her academic career or choice of professions.

Teaching opportunities are worth exploring for younger members of the Academy, as it allows their education, technical skills and expertise in a variety of disciplines, and high level of enthusiasm to be shared with others. While many of their students will become more enlightened members of the general public, some of these students serve an even more important role...as members of tomorrow's forensic science community.

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