Students were also treated to a polygraph demonstration put on by Dennis J. Peloquin, a member of the Association of Massachusetts Polygraphists. After administering a sample test to one of the 40 eager volunteers, Peloquin answered questions about how easy it is to deceive the polygraph machine. When asked, however, whether a lie detector test is always conclusive, his positive response was met with dubious chorus of “yeah, but my mom’s a lawyer,” “my mom’s a lawyer too...” and he quickly concluded the question and answer session.
After the individual classroom presentations, the group reconvened to review the evidence each class had gathered and to identify the kidnapper.
“We talked through each of the suspects and why we could rule them out. They could tell me the science behind each of the explanations. It was really wonderful,” Vora said.
More than 50 students volunteer with the ExperiMentors program and team teach a weekly science lesson in area elementary schools.
Science Day was funded by a grant from the Undergraduate Council and the Massachusetts Campus Compact, an organization that supports community service projects on college campuses.
—Staff writer Rachel E. Dry can be reached at dry@fas.harvard.edu.