Your team has made some outstanding contributions to the advancement of forensic science. They've devised new methods for extracting DNA from samples, for enhancing bloody fingerprints, and for estimating blood volume at a crime scene. They've also highlighted the role of forensic biochemistry. Can you tell us more?

It's very important that everybody work together, because the forensic field is a lonely and difficult field. You need everybody to push together. Over the years we achieved three most important things:

1. The public recognizes forensics as a field; they understand better what it is. They used to think we were in forestry or involved in foreign affairs.

2. We've made a tremendous contribution to the forensic literature. There used to only be one book on criminology, and today there are so many good forensic scientists contributing to the research and to making better textbooks for younger people to study. We used to be afraid of putting down information because if we taught everyone else, we might be out of a job. Now more scientists share their results.

3. People are more interested in forensics and more good students are getting inspired to major in forensics. That might get the justice department to put more resources into forensics, which will bring more justice to our society.

What tips do you have for young people interested in going into forensic science as a career?

A lot of young people come to see me from high schools and junior high. I'm booked now for speeches through the year 2006. I want to share with them both my life experience and my forensic experience. I came to this country with only $50 in my pocket. I didn't speak English. This country provided the opportunity for me to learn to grow. The first tip I give them is that they have to work hard and prove themselves. The forensic field is not lucrative. You cannot become wealthy like an MBA sports star with a $6 million contract. You work with a very small salary. If you want to be challenged, it's the right field.

You have to have a good science background. You also have to learn to use deductive and inductive logic. You need to have curiosity. You have to have persistence. Then you need an attitude, that you do your best. Win, lose, you don't care. Don't let public opinion press you. Don't let the police press you. Don't let anything press you to do something unethical. Then you can survive and become one of the best forensic scientists.