Theodore Chung, first assistant corporation counse with the City of Chicago Department of Law, admits that he didn’t enjoy science very much growing up and that a career in law was one way he hoped to avoid the subject altogether.


“I thought I was in the clear when I became a lawyer,” Chung told a mesmerized group of sixth, seventh, and eighth graders on February 8.

But Chung soon found out that understanding scientific concepts was a critical part of his job as a prosecutor and former assistant U.S. attorney. Gathering and analyzing evidence, understanding the way firearms work and the chemical components of drugs, and explaining these things to juries all require a knowledge of science.

He, with Sgt. Ray Hamilton a member of the Chicago Police Department's Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) unit, showed the careful calculations law enforcement officials use when busting drug labs, the intricacies of a ballistics report, and a drawing that was used in court showing bullet trajectory.


Chung was one among more than a dozen speakers who shared their daily, hands-on experiences with science during the second annual Middle School Science Day.

This year, the Middle Schoolers heard from a small-animal veterinarian who does everything from performing major surgeries to giving acupuncture to animals; doctors in a variety of fields including psychiatry, cardiology, orthopedics, oncology, infectious diseases, and genetics; and scientists with interests in astronomy, polymers, and the brain. They also learned about obtaining patents for scientific inventions and about the practical applications of science in physical therapy, the food and beverage industry, and ecology.


The afternoon concluded with an assembly titled “Weird Science” by Lee Marek, a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Marek, who has been a guest on the “Late Show with David Letterman” 24 times, entertained the Middle Schoolers with his incredible science experiments.

Once again, the day succeeded in its mission to show students how interesting a career in science can be and to expose them to people who depend on science every day of their lives.

Thank you to the many parent volunteers who participated in the day or secured speakers and the many teachers who helped to facilitate the activities.

© 2008 The Latin School of Chicago

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