Feature
Solving the Mystery of Missing Frankie: Operation Raptor Rescue at Dundee Botanic Gardens
During Maths Week Scotland 2025, high school students from across Dundee were challenged to help locate a missing sparrowhawk
Published on 8 October 2025
The peaceful surroundings of the Dundee Botanic Gardens were transformed into a hive of scientific activity as Operation Raptor Rescue took flight for Maths Week 2025.
Organised by the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science (LRCFS) Public Engagement team in collaboration with the University of Dundee Botanic Gardens, the event welcomed around 200 pupils from Greenfield Academy, Arbroath High, and Morgan Academy.
Their mission? To solve the curious case of Frankie, a fictional sparrowhawk who had mysteriously gone missing.
To crack the case, pupils took on the role of forensic investigators, making their way through a series of hands-on, science-based activities spread throughout the gardens.
With support from 17 researcher volunteers and contributions from the School of Mathematics, the EU Clarus project and across the University of Dundee, each activity was designed to highlight the real-world applications of forensic science, with a strong dose of maths and critical thinking.
From examining feathers and footprints to interpreting coded messages and analysing botanical evidence, the pupils worked in teams to collect clues and piece together what might have happened to Frankie.
The story-based structure made for an engaging and memorable learning experience, showing how different scientific disciplines can work together to solve complex problems. It also gave the school groups an opportunity to speak with and meet lots of different researchers and people who work at the University of Dundee.
Operation Raptor was a brilliant example of how creative, cross-disciplinary outreach can ignite curiosity and show young people that science is not only relevant but be exciting too.
Over 70% of the pupils said they ‘loved it’ or ‘it was good’. The crime scene and code-cracking activities were definite highlights!
A huge thank you to Maths Week Scotland for funding the activities and thank you to the schools, volunteers, and staff who made the day possible. Frankie may have been fictional, but the enthusiasm and engagement from the pupils was very real.