E-mail

[argyle_princess]

To: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
From: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>
Subj: Liked Your Book

Dear Dr. Brennan,

I found this address on the Jeffersonian's website, and I really hope it's okay to be writing to you at it. My name is Hannah Griffith, I'm a junior at Neptune High, and I just finished reading your book and I just wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed reading it. Kathy Reichs was just an incredibly cool character, and the forensic anthropology stuff was interesting.

Is it all right to ask you what advice you'd have for a sixteen-year-old girl who'd like to learn more about forensic anthropology? I'll completely understand if you're way too busy to answer fan e-mails from random high school students, but I figured it didn't hurt to ask.

Anyway, the book was great and I'm already looking forward to your next one.

Sincerely,
Hannah Griffith

Comments

[dr_temperance]

To: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>
From: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
Subj: RE: Liked Your Book

Dear Hannah,

I'm glad that you enjoyed the book, and very glad to hear about your interest in forensic anthropology. It is an exciting and challenging field.

As far as pursing a career in forensic anthropology, I would consider a solid background in the sciences to be vital. The current minimum requirements necessary to become a forensic anthropologist include a BA in anthropology or a closely related field, a MA in anthropology, and generally a PhD in physical anthropology. I would begin by seeking out colleges with good anthropology and science programs.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have about studying or working in this field. Please don't hesitate to ask.

Sincerely,
Dr. Temperance Brennan

[argyle_princess]

To: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
From: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>
Subj: Wow

Dear Dr. Brennan,

Wow. I can't believe you wrote back. I know you must be incredibly busy and I really appreciate you taking the time.

Is it okay to ask what may sound like a pretty silly question? Do you like working as a forensic anthropologist? I mean, the science of it sounds incredibly cool, and I like biology (so I assume I'd like anatomy, too), but it also sounds like it could be kind of depressing. Identifying murder and accident victims. And also occasionally kind of, well, gross.

Thank you again!

Sincerely,
Hannah Griffith

[dr_temperance]

To: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>
From: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
Subj:

Dear Hannah,

Don't worry--there are no such things as silly questions.

In answer to your question, I like my job very much. Which does not mean that it is not difficult sometimes. One of the most important things to learn in this line of work is to be able to set your emotions aside during the course of the investigation. Many of the things we see here can be depressing and disturbing. But we counteract that by knowing that we are giving an identity to a victim and closure to a family, and perhaps bringing a killer to justice. That part's not depressing at all.

As for the 'gross' part--well, you get accustomed to that far more quickly than you might think.

Does your school offer anatomy? If it does, I would highly recommend taking it.

Sincerely,
Dr. Temperance Brennan

P.S. The invitation to send questions (silly or otherwise) remains open.

[argyle_princess]

To: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
From: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>
Subj: Science and Stuff

Dear Dr. Brennan,

Neptune doesn't offer anatomy, but there's an advance bio class that kind of covers it. About six people take it every year (okay, maybe ten), mostly the science geeks. But I may as well admit that I'm a science geek and get it over with. There's physics, too, for seniors, but there's nothing that says I can't take both, especially if I drop history.

How hard is it to learn to set emotions aside? Because that sounds like something that would be easier to decide you were going to do than actually do.

Hannah

P.S. I'm probably going to go on sending questions until it's not okay, so please tell me if I'm overstaying my welcome.

[dr_temperance]

To: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>
From: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
Subj: Science and stuff

Dear Hannah,

Don't worry. I'm a science geek myself. Or a 'squint' as a colleague of mine puts it.

Advanced Biology would be a very good class to take. I sometimes forget how difficult it can be to find a class soley on human anatomy on a high school level. They are much more common in colleges.

As to setting aside your emotions--well, that depends a lot on the individual. I think it's safe to say that we all feel for the victims that we deal with. But you learn to focus on the details of the investigation, knowing that in the end, that is what will help them the most.

And consider the welcome mat to be perpetually out. We need more new recruits in this field.

T. Brennan

[argyle_princess]

To: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
From: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>
Subj: Squint?

Dear Dr. Brennan,

Okay, I have to ask. What's a "squint"? Or maybe what I mean is why is "squint" the same thing as a science geek?

The seeting aside the emotions thing probably gets easier as you go along, doesn't it?

Hannah

[dr_temperance]

To: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>
From: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
Subj: Yeah. Squint.

Dear Hannah,

My partner says that it's because we're always "squinting" at things.

My parter can sometimes be a bit of a dork.

Setting aside your emotions does get easier with practice. You don't lose your capicity to feel emotions, mind you. You just learn to put them away while you work.

T. Brennan

[argyle_princess]

To: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
From: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>
Subj: RE: Yeah. Squint.

Dear Dr. Brennan,

Well, okay. I can see that. Microscopes and all. But, yeah, it is kinda dorky.

When did you figure out this was what you wanted to do? And how did people react when you told them? It's just kind of a lesser known field, you know? And I can see where people would find it kind of creepy. So why forensic anthropology and not, say, archeology. (Aside from it being a lot easier to spell.)

Hannah

[dr_temperance]

To: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>
From: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
Subj: Yeah. Squint.

Dear Hannah,

I discovered anthropology very early on in college and, like you, had always enjoyed science. Forensic anthropology was the logical melding of the two.

Some people do have adverse reactions to what I do for a living. As a society, we view death as something to be hidden, and those who deal with the dead are considered a little abnormal. But fortunately that's a fairly knee-jerk reaction. Once people are educated on what it's all about and see the purpose in it, their attitudes tend to change.

I do consult on archeological cases as part of my work, and enjoy it very much. But I like the sense of purpose that comes with dealing with more current cases. The work we do is very necessary both to law enforcement and to the families of the victims. I suppose it's the satisfaction of helping the victims that I enjoy the most.

T. Brennan

[argyle_princess]

To: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
From: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>
Subj: RE: Yeah. Squint.

Dear Dr. Brennan,

I don't think there's a whole lot of point in trying to "educate" most of my classmates. They're either going to think it's really freaky, or chances are the people who don't are mostly going to be people I would think are basically freaks. High school students aren't supposed to think about death, even in Neptune, where it keeps happening. But you know, you don't have to tell your friends EVERYTHING.

I like the idea that science helps people. Well, I guess most science helps people, doesn't it? But there's something just genuinely cool about the idea that science solves crimes, and not just on CSI. And that you can work out all sorts of things about how a person lived AND dies just by examining a skeleton. (I found a book for laymen in the library, and I've been doing a little reading.)

Hannah

[dr_temperance]

To: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>
From: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
Subj: RE: Yeah. Squint.

Dear Hannah,

The good news is that once you're in a college program, you'll find many more people who understand and appreciate the field.

And even those deemed freakish can be well worth getting to know.

A lot of people find me freakish, and it hasn't hurt me a bit.

Have you thought about where you might apply yet?

T. Brennan

[argyle_princess]

To: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
From: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptune.org>
Subj: College

Dear Dr. Brennan,

Trust me. Some of the people at my school are just plain freaks, and not the interesting misunderstood kind, either.

As for colleges, no, I haven't really settled on places to actually apply. Until last year I'd have told you there was no way I was going to leave California, but now I'm thinking far from Neptune is not necessarily a bad thing. I haven't really hand a chance to look into what schools have highly ranked/rated anthropology programs. What would you recommend, if anything? (One thing I do know is that I want to go somewhere it's relatively easy to do a semester in France at some point.)

Hannah

[dr_temperance]

To: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>
From: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
Subj: RE: College

Dear Hannah,

As much as I would like to be able to say that all "freaks" are misunderstood, and have intrinsic depth and meaningful insights, I would be lying. Some people are just freakish without any redeeming qualities.

Life does vastly improve after high school. It's been scientifically proven.

As for college, I got my degree at Northwestern. Climatically speaking, it might be a bit of a shock coming from California, but they have an extremely good program.

T. Brennan

[argyle_princess]

To: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
From: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>
Subj: RE: College

Dear Dr. Brennan,

I hear that about high school. Of course, I also hear that these are the best years of my life, which I really hope isn't true. For one thing, who wants the best years of their life to be over when they're 18? And for another, the people who tell me this are usually the sort of loser who's still wearing a letter jacket and a high school ring and remembering his glory days on the basketball team (or cheerleading squad) into his late twenties. And I so don't want to be that person.

I know I should say climate doesn't matter so much so long as it's a good school, but after spenting part of what was supposedly spring in Vermont last year, I'm really not sure I'm up for freezing through four winters. On the other hand, there are an annoying number of good schools in cold places, which seems odd planning to me. Maybe the idea is that it's too cold to do anything but stay in and study?

I'll look into Northwestern, though.

Hannah

[dr_temperance]

To: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>
From: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
Subj: RE: College

Dear Hannah,

I can say without hesitation that high school comprised the worst years of my life. Your assessment of those people who think of it as the best of times is very accurate. They've never progressed.

If you decide you want to contact Northwestern, let me know. I can probably give you the names of some good people to talk to in the sciences department.

T. Brennan

[argyle_princess]

To: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
From: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>
Subj: High School

Dear Dr. Brennan,

Today, at Neptune High, we had streakers in the middle of lunch. Always do around this time of year -- the rumor is that it's a secret society for the brightest and best, and this is part of the initiation stuff. I'm not sure I buy it. I mean, there may well be a secret society that THINKS it's the brightest and best, but it would all be guys (so, you know, kinda lets most of the brightest and best out right there), and if they really were that smart, you'd think they could come up with something to do other than streak through lunch.

All of which is a long-winded way to say I kind of can't wait to graduate. Though this sort of stuff probably goes on in college, too, doesn't it?

I don't know that I'm ready to contact Northwestern just yet, but if I decide to, I'm definitely going to take you up on that. Thanks!

Hannah

[dr_temperance]

To: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>
From: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
Subj: RE: High School

Dear Hannah,

It's quite ironic when a society brands itself as 'secret' and then seems to go out of it's way to attract attention.

Well, they certainly can't be that bright. How much of a secret can their society be if the student body has seen them naked?

T. Brennan

[argyle_princess]

To: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
From: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>

Subj: RE: High School

Dr. Brennan,

LOL. They wear ski masks, when they streak. We may be a hotbed of high school debauchery, but it's not so bad that we can recognize each other naked from the neck down, with faces covered.

And the school authorities will just love that this is what I'm choosing to tell a noted forensic anthropologist about Neptune High.

Hannah

[dr_temperance]

To: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>
From: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
Subj: RE: High School

Dear Hannah,

I could probably tell you a dozen different ways to pick your streakers out of a (fully clothed) line-up using forensic anthropological applications. And hundreds of studies have been done on the role of initiation rituals in society.

So, we'd tell the school officials that this is all of scholarly interest, not tawdry gossip.

I don't remember anyone streaking when I was in high school, but I definitely remember a few college incidents.

T. Brennan

P.S. And by that I mean I remember them strictly as a spectator, not a participant.

[argyle_princess]

To: Temperance Brennan <tbrennan@jeffersonian.gov>
From: Hannah Griffith <hannahgriffith@neptunehigh.org>
Subj: Seriously?

Dr. Brennan,

Ok, I'll bite. So how could you pick them (fully clothed) out of a line up? And what is the role of intiation rituals in society? I mean, aside from the disruption of lunch?

Hannah