Source: Betty Layne DesPortes, JD, MS, 2017-18 President Scientific evidence is a powerful tool in the search for the truth and the pursuit of justice. As forensic scientists, we have a duty to ensure our results and opinions are valid and reliable. Standards and best practice guidelines provide the foundation for our work and […]
Source: Betty Layne DesPortes, JD, MS, 2017-18 President The week of August 21-25, 2017, I had the pleasure of attending the 21st Triennial Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Sciences (IAFS) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The opening ceremony highlighted the global span of the 1,440 delegates from 86 countries and 6 continents. IAFS President Michael Pollanen […]
Source: Betty Layne DesPortes, JD, MS, 2017-18 President As President of the Academy, I have had the honor of talking to a wide variety of audiences about forensic science and the mission of the Academy. I often describe the greatest strengths of the Academy as the extensive knowledge base of our members and their level […]
Source: Betty Layne DesPortes, JD, MS, 2017-18 President Forensic science is a field with no borders, and it is a field that provides a vast platform for collaboration among scientists throughout the world. Meetings and conferences this spring and summer have highlighted these characteristics. The AAFS has been well represented at these meetings, but I […]
Source: Betty Layne DesPortes, JD, MS On May 13, 2017, I had the honor of speaking at the commencement exercises for the Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Forensic Sciences. This Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) -accredited program had 45 Bachelor of Science graduates and 15 Master of Science graduates for 2017. When I […]
Source: Betty Layne DesPortes, JD, MS, AAFS President Message to the Membership: On March 7, 2017, the AAFS Board of Directors requested input from the membership on two pieces of legislation proposed by the Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations (CFSO), of which AAFS is a member. The two pieces of federal legislation concerned: (1) the […]
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE One month into my term as your President, I am even more thankful to Immediate Past President John Gerns for his leadership and mentorship. Without John’s diligent planning, the New Orleans meeting would not have been a success in his absence. Without his transparency about the issues and decisions he faced during his […]
Source: John E. Gerns, MFS, 2016-17 President As summer comes to an end and fall begins knocking on our door, I have just returned from a part of the world where spring is beginning — I am speaking of New Zealand. This year, the AAFS International Educational Outreach Program (IEOP) took place in New Zealand, also […]
Source: John E. Gerns, MFS, 2016-17 President It’s hard to believe that it has already been five months since we all met in Las Vegas! It was an excellent venue for learning new techniques, exchanging ideas, meeting old friends, making new friends, and greeting colleagues. I assure you that our meeting in New Orleans will […]
First, I would like to say how honored and privileged I am to serve as the 67th American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFS) President. Thirty-three years ago, I joined the AAFS. I felt privileged to be part of the AAFS organization. As the years passed, my awe of the Academy has never diminished and this […]
Source: Victor W. Weedn, MD, JD, 2015-16 AAFS President The AAFS 68th Annual Scientific Meeting to be held in Las Vegas from February 22-27 is now right around the corner!! It is being held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, which is located a little way off the strip and is not too near […]
Source: Victor W. Weedn, MD, JD, 2015-16 AAFS President Gearing up to become a Standards Development Organization (SDO) is dominating the myriad of activities of the Academy, but appropriately so. Standards-setting is a dominant activity in the forensic sciences community and the Academy has the strength and depth to step into a critical supportive role […]
Recently we announced that the Academy was the recipient of a $1.5M grant from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation (LJAF) to establish AAFS as an accredited Standards Developing Organization (SDO). We are pleased to announce the AAFS submitted our application to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) last Wednesday, August 26 — meeting our first […]
Source: Victor W. Weedn, MD, JD, 2015-16 President The Laura and John Arnold Foundation (LJAF) has awarded $1.5M to the Academy to establish a Standards Development Organization (SDO). I believe that this is strategic for our organization’s future and critical to our forensic science community now. Although forensic medicine and toxicology have origins from many […]
As I look back at the past few months, there have been an unusual number of issues in forensic science which have garnered media attention including a series of articles on bitemark evidence, a study of FBI hair analysis cases disclosing a high proportion of errors, changes in the leadership of the Washington, DC, Department […]
I’m excited and am very much looking forward to serving you as the 66th President of AAFS in this coming year. My theme for the year and the 2016 Annual Scientific Meeting in Las Vegas is: Transformation: Embracing Change. Some recommendations of the National Commission on Forensic Sciences (NCFS) will likely be implemented this year. […]
The AAFS stands at the doorstep of a new era for forensic science in America and the world. The Academy has demonstrated a spectacular commitment to the NIST Forensic Science Initiative and the process of creating its Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSACs). As we venture into 2015, Academy members comprise 49% of the OSAC […]
Greetings from the beautiful port city of Busan at the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula, where I have just come from visiting the brand new, state-of-the-art Korean National Forensic Service (NFS) facility. I am here as part of the AAFS International Educational Outreach Program, with a wonderful group of distinguished Academy members. We have […]