Laser-zapped fingernails show "You are what you eat"

It's amazing what a simple fingernail clipping can reveal. In an instant, advanced laser technology at the University of Victoria can determine a person's diet and the presence of elements like copper, lead and zinc.

The laser lab will be open to local students next week to showcase its forensic science capabilities, one of three B.C. Festival of Science and Technology events at UVic.

Dr. Kevin Telmer of the UVic School of Earth and Ocean Sciences explains that "the laser 'evaporates' a small spot on the fingernail and the resulting vapour is carried into an analyzer where its composition is immediately determined." A comparison of individual results will be posted on the lab's home page (http://ceor.seos.uvic.ca/icpms/index.html).

In day-to-day research and tests, the laser (technically an "inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer") can perform content analyses for everything from water and mineral samples to fish stocks and evidence from crime scenes. Tours of the lab are hourly from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 18, 20 and 22.

On Oct. 16, teams of local high school students will descend on the UVic Engineering faculty to test their concept, design and construction skills--processes central to technology development.

The challenge is being coordinated by the UVic Engineering Students' Society. "In order to be successful, the teams must apply knowledge of physics and mechanics to anticipate the stresses and forces that the device they build will encounter," says organizer Andrew Preston.

And, on Oct. 22 up to 1,000 Vancouver Island high school students, teachers and parents are expected to attend a "high-tech show and tell." The day begins in University Centre Farquhar Auditorium at 9 a.m. with a showing of recent images from the Hubble Space Telescope.

"We hope to assist students in choosing the career best-suited to them," says Dr. George Beer, coordinator.

Students will have a chance to meet professional engineers and scientists, UVic faculty members, and UVic science and engineering co-op students. Selected labs will be open for tours and the day will wind-up with the popular "Dr. Zonk" chemistry show.

Media members are invited to attend UVic's Festival of Science and Technology events.

-- 30 --