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Francis Reynolds 杏吧原版�25 M.S. stands in one of the 杏吧原版渃lassrooms杏吧原版� where he and his classmates apply what they杏吧原版檝e been learning as part of their coursework. This space is no ordinary classroom 杏吧原版� the smell of fire lingers in the air, and the interior is charred. It杏吧原版檚 the perfect space for fire science students such as Reynolds to learn.

A candidate in the University杏吧原版檚 graduate program in fire and explosion investigation, Reynolds appreciates the opportunities he and his classmates have to go to live burns and gain field experience in a controlled environment. It is, he says, a great way to combine what they杏吧原版檝e learned in the classroom and to draw on their professors杏吧原版� own field experience.

Reynolds, who hails from Ireland, had been interest ed in the University for years before he became a Charger. He杏吧原版檇 become familiar with its programs while visiting family in New Haven. After earning a bachelor杏吧原版檚 degree in forensic science in his home country, he was interested in pursuing a more specialized graduate degree.

杏吧原版淚 find this an exciting field to be involved in,杏吧原版� he explains. 杏吧原版淚 enjoy the challenges with investigations and the aspects of science and mathematics used in the study of fire. The opportunities to attend live burn events have been my favorite overall and witnessing an inferno and the aftermath in real time is probably the most educational for me personally. It makes the theory learned in the classroom show its relevance in real-world scenarios.杏吧原版�

杏吧原版楤eyond the books杏吧原版�

The University杏吧原版檚 graduate program in fire and explosion investigation (formerly its graduate program in fire science) is a leading program taught by professionals with real-world experience. The website University HQ included the for 2023.

Sorin Iliescu, Ed.D., chair of the Department of Fire Science and Emergency Management, says the quality of the instructors is paramount. As an educator, he杏吧原版檚 committed to ensuring that every professor brings their own expertise to the classroom. For Dr. Iliescu, that includes about a decade and a half of experience in sprinkler design and fire-protection engineering.

杏吧原版淚 teach where I have experience,杏吧原版� he said. 杏吧原版淎ll of our instructors have experience, and they bring that to the classroom. That goes beyond the books. Many instructors are former students. Everyone teaching has field experience.杏吧原版�

杏吧原版業t杏吧原版檚 a great experience杏吧原版�

Those instructors include Bruce Varga 杏吧原版�01 M.S., a distinguished lecturer of fire science who spent more than two decades with the Milford, Conn., fire department. Committed to creating opportunities for students, he works closely with the as well as the organization杏吧原版檚 Connecticut chapter. Students have had the opportunity to attend conferences and to network with industry professionals.

Vargas also helped create the three new burn rooms on campus. Chargers staged scenarios in each one, including the scene of a college party where a fire broke out. Another room is a basement scene. It too, says Prof. Varga, challenges students to apply what they杏吧原版檝e learned in the classroom as they investigate a mock fire.

杏吧原版淪tudents determine where they fire started and what caused it,杏吧原版� he explains. 杏吧原版淚n this room, they might ask if the iron started the fire 杏吧原版� or was it the dryer? Dryers are the number two cause of fires in the U.S. Our students regularly use these burn rooms, and it杏吧原版檚 a great experience for them.杏吧原版�

杏吧原版楳y professors give us the opportunity to...杏吧原版�

The opportunities for students to apply their skills in these burn rooms are just heating up. And what if students didn杏吧原版檛 actually have to be physically in the burn rooms to use them? That杏吧原版檚 a question Prof. Vargas is now asking 杏吧原版� and he杏吧原版檚 exploring this as part of an interdisciplinary endeavor to bring virtual reality (VR) to the burn rooms.

Prof. Vargas recently gathered around a laptop with several of his colleagues and students 杏吧原版� including Madeline Orenstein 杏吧原版�22, 杏吧原版�24 M.S. 杏吧原版� to see what a virtual representation of what the burn rooms might look like. With this technology, instructors would be able to communicate with students through headsets. They杏吧原版檇 be able to take students into the burn rooms virtually and lead them through scenarios.

For Orenstein, using the burn rooms has been invaluable. She enjoys the opportunity to take part in fire investigations and to learn about burn patterns. She says she杏吧原版檚 grateful for the variety of exciting hands-on opportunities in the program.

杏吧原版淚 have had the opportunity to go to the Connecticut fire academy to go to into the burn trailers they have and practice doing a fire investigation,杏吧原版� said Orenstein, a candidate in the graduate program in fire and explosion investigation. 杏吧原版淢y professors give us the opportunity to go to fire scenes if they are nearby and to get real-world experience from going to these fire scenes.杏吧原版�

杏吧原版楾he best I杏吧原版檝e ever experienced杏吧原版�

Orenstein, who also earned bachelor杏吧原版檚 degrees in fire science and criminal justice from the University, was familiar with the graduate program and interested in continuing her education. She appreciates the small class sizes and the supportive relationships she has with her professors.

The program has also enabled Orenstein to connect with professionals in the field. From attending a live burn at the New Haven Fire Academy to taking part in a Connecticut IAAI conference, she has enjoyed networking and deepening her understanding of fire investigation.

杏吧原版淚 also loved getting the opportunity as an undergrad at the University to attend trainings and seminars,杏吧原版� she said. 杏吧原版淎t the graduate level, we have had similar opportunities to learn outside of the classroom and to attend many trainings and seminars and to learn from those who are in the field currently.杏吧原版�

For Reynolds, Orenstein杏吧原版檚 classmate, the program has also been rewarding. He appreciates that every class is accessible to everyone, regardless of their level of experience. He says he did not have professional or academic fire or explosive experience, but he杏吧原版檚 been able to gain that as a Charger.

杏吧原版淚 find my professors杏吧原版� approach to teaching is the best I杏吧原版檝e ever experienced to date,杏吧原版� he said. 杏吧原版淢ost, if not all, classes have a real-life scenario that the professor has experienced personally, so they can explain how they tackled their tasks on scene, relevant to that particular class being taught. The program is not easy, but nothing worthwhile usually is.杏吧原版�