Due to its increase in popularity a new Forensic Science course has launched at Nottingham Trent University, with all 30 places being filled straight away. NTU joins the University of Leicester and Derby University in the East Midlands, who already offer various combinations of Forensic Science courses. Dr Carl Percivel, leader of the new Forensic Science course, believes television crime drama has played a major part in this: "I cannot see anything else that could have influenced so many people. It’s fantastic, we need all the young blood we can coming into science, it will help to dispel the myth of Einstein- like characters that are always associated with science."  There’s a big difference between watching television and taking or analysing samples... Forensic Scientists are shown as solving crime in 15 minutes flat, this is not the case | | Dr Carl Percivel, Nottingham Trent University |
However, crime drama still remains an influence rather than a deciding factor as the programme's often portray Forensic Science inaccurately: "There’s a big difference between watching television and taking or analysing samples," says Dr Percivel. "Often crime drama’s like Cracker and CSI confuse Scene of Crime Investigators with Forensic Scientists. Forensic Scientists are shown as solving crime in 15 minutes flat, this is not the case. Everyone who wants to study Forensic Science at Nottingham Trent University will know it is a fundamental science. It is an interdisciplinary subject that looks at lots of areas, including the law side of Forensic Science." Forensic Science has been dubbed the new Media Studies by some academics, as Universities increasingly use popular culture to attract students to University. Although the number of students opting to study Forensic Science is expected to increase, there seems to be no shortage of career prospects after graduation. Due to its interdisciplinary nature, studying Forensic Science can branch off into many areas, other than simply being a Forensic Scientist. It is often a route into the Police force, or the law side of science, and many other areas of scientific research. What's it like to be a Forensic Scientist? | 
