Science, forensic research and Hollywood all came together at Bakersfield College in the Fireside Room on March 29, with two of “CSI: Las Vegas'” research team members giving a presentation on the correlation between real and artificial crime scene investigation represented in the TV series.

Students as well as faculty and local news coverage filled the room. There were no open seats available and late arrivers had to stand in the back against the wall or on the floor.

Lesley Castillo, human services and criminal justice major at BC, explained why she attended this “I came to the CSI presentation because I watch the show on TV. It is actually one of my favorite shows, and it was a part of an assignment for Mr. Zoller’s class,” Castillo stated.

The scientific pair set up the overhead projector to give a visual effect to the gruesome but factual roles of their jobs.

Jon Wellner and David Berman are real researchers who play the roles of fake researchers on the show.

Wellner plays toxicology specialist Henry Andrews and Berman plays assistant coroner David Phillips.

Besides the acting, each researcher has major roles in the creation and portrayal of each graphic murder scenario in every episode.

Both researchers explained that they work out of their homes because it gets them the fastest and best solution to the questions asked by the production team and the storywriters.

They have to find scientific, but possible answers that the show can use and make appear as real as possible to viewers.

The team distinctively discussed the process it takes to make a science-based show real and ready for airing. They cleared up any myths about how such an informational yet entertaining show is really created.

“There are at least 10 full-time writers and 10 full-time researchers behind the making of this forensic focused program. The group then comes up with plot points they’ve outlined, while the writer’s generate the research questions we have to answer,” Wellner said.

The actors continue speaking about how they have to make the real science fit into the short time span the show allows as well as make the plot the writers created come alive and logically makes sense.

They explained the amount of time and energy each person involved in the production of each episode has to contribute.

“There are four mythologists who rotate,” Wellner said. “We are only allowed seven prep days in which location scouting is included and meeting with special effects coordinators. The total time is nine days and 44 minutes actually being filmed.

“We work four to 10 hours and sometimes 14 to 16 hour days. There are three editors in rotation and they edit the scenes the day before.

“There is just one day left for all editing to be done before the show airs Thursday nights. CBS, Paramount and Bruckheimer productions have to edit for objectivity, nudity and violence. Like if there is too much sex or violence in the episode.”

As the presentation continued, the speakers gave a few examples of the types of questions they have to find answers to, such as the temperature an eyeball melts, which is at 168 degrees Fahrenheit.

Both Berman and Wellner give another example from a previous season.

“I can remember during season two there was an episode where we had to find out how a Zamboni gets rid of the ice that it collects and cleans, which is in three-by-five-by-five foot piles. We have to estimate the time it takes to look through the ice piles for evidence,” Berman stated.

After their presentation, both guests opened the floor to questions about what they covered as well as for personal questions about their roles.

They did, however, clearly state that one of the main reasons they came to Bakersfield was because they have a longtime relationship with ballistic specialist Greg Laskowski of the Bakersfield Police Department.

“He has been a longtime friend and reference if we needed to ask a specialist questions. He has been with the BPD for over 30 years. We were brought the idea by our agent, who gives a list of possible places to attend, and we wanted to speak personally when we heard that it would be in Bakersfield,” Wellner stated.

The pair of actors arrived to BC after attending the Kern County Science Fair at Rabobank Arena.

That event and the presentation at BC was coordinated by program manager Rageshwar Goldberg of BC’s Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics program.

The purpose of the STEM program is to show students numerous job opportunities in these fields. The STEM program’s goals are similar to that of the researchers on why they do these types of events.

The other reason for the duo’s appearance on BC’s campus is because Goldberg organized their event through a collaborative grant between Cal State Bakersfield and BC.

“We want students to know how important science and math is to this profession and for them to know how important it is to pay attention in school,” Wellner said.