Photo By Sgt. Lesley Cisneros | Employees at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, conduct a presentation for...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii. – The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency welcomed students from the Aliamanu Middle School for the third annual Student Summit Career Day at DPAA’s facilities, Feb. 13, 2025.
The student summit is a unique educational opportunity for students to meet DPAA personnel, tour the laboratory and ultimately gain an in-depth look at the agency’s mission to recover and identify missing U.S. service members from past conflicts. Dr. Lauren Santini, a DPAA forensic anthropologist, was eager to share her expertise to the students.
“It is important to give back to the younger generations and show them the different science career fields and specialties,” said Dr. Santini.
Dr. Santini, along with other scientists and anthropologists, guided students through the basics of human anatomy, demonstrating how skeletal remains can reveal critical details about an individual’s identity. Using real-world examples, they explained how forensic techniques, such as dental analysis and bone structure examination, help reconstruct the stories of those lost in battle.
The students were captivated by learning how science solves mysteries, deepening both their STEM knowledge and appreciation for fallen heroes.
“It is important for the students to get hands on experience to understand how science plays a crucial role in real-world field recovery operations,” said Susan Dougherty, an Aliamanu Middle School chaperone. “The students were fascinated about the possibility of pursuing career fields in science, history, or military service.”
The summit allowed the students to piece together clues, mirroring the real investigative process used in recovery missions such as an isotopes demonstration, simulated digging and screening operations, skeletal assembly and more. The experience sparked curiosity, with many students asking insightful questions about career paths in forensic science and archaeology. For the students, hearing about the emotional significance of this work made the scientific process more meaningful.
“My favorite part was the isotopes demonstration and using chemicals to discover their origin,” said Ryan Wilcox, a student at Aliamanu Middle School.
For the past three years the DPAA and the student summit continue to strengthen their bonds in the local community. By bridging the gap between science and history, the program not only educates young minds but also fosters a deeper connection with the public to the agency’s mission.
“The most important part about DPAA is that we get to remember all the veterans who have died for our country and how we can bring them back home to their families,” said Ryan Wilcox.
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| Date Taken: | 02.13.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 03.03.2025 12:47 |
| Story ID: | 491259 |
| Location: | HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 35 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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