Workshops

Forensic or Investigative Genetic Genealogy (F/IGG), is an identity resolution technique for law enforcement to help solve homicides, sexual assaults and identify human remains. This technique has been utilized by the FBI since April 2018 and is increasingly being used internationally, including in Australia. The capability began with human remains identification, before being applied to criminal investigations

This workshop will build on previous knowledge and practical application of F/IGG, and will focus on:

• New and emerging software, techniques and AI-enabled tools for case resolution
• Review of Australian and international legal and policy around the use of F/IGG
• Advanced use of Open Source Intelligence, leveraging data in an Australian context
• Progressing the investigative lead, from inception to operational reality
• Strategies for reference testing
• Media engagement strategies
• Presentation of F/IGG in court
• Use of SNP to SNP comparison to support coroner and medical examiner investigations.
• International aspects in the use of F/IGG, including law enforcement cooperation
• Balancing privacy, security and proportionality

The workshop will include the presentation of various case studies, providing more in-depth analysis of the application of this technique than can be covered in an introductory course.

Click here to register your interest in attending this workshop.

As the need for rapid, accurate presumptive screening of chemical evidence in forensic analyses continues to grow, many laboratories are embracing ambient ionization mass spectrometry (AI-MS). AI-MS instruments are appealing because they can offer a near-complete chemical profile of a sample in a matter of seconds, with little to no sample preparation. However, as with any new technology, adoption and implementation of these instruments can be challenging.

Overcoming challenges surrounding implementation of these new techniques requires an understanding of the science that underlies the techniques, knowing how to implement the techniques into casework, appreciating the limitations of the techniques, and having confidence in handling and interpretating the data that is generated from the techniques. This workshop will explore each of these four points, providing participants with the information necessary to determine if and how these approaches could benefit their workflows. This workshop will be most beneficial to those new to AI-MS or those who are considering implementing AI-MS in their laboratories. While the primary focus of the workshop will be on direct analysis in real time (DART) applications for seized drug analysis, other ambient ionization sources and forensic chemistry disciplines will be highlighted.

The goal of this workshop is to highlight the role of forensic science in meeting larger international development goals. In line with the National Academy of Science’s recommendation, an overarching goal of ICITAP forensic assistance programs is international accreditation and adoption of recognized best practices. Achieving international accreditation is a long process that requires solid management skills such as strategic planning, budgeting, and administration of a rigorous quality assurance program. This workshop will review ICITAP’s experience in partnering with the Costa Rica DFS and other organizations and discuss the challenges faced by most laboratories in providing effective laboratory leadership.

The workshop will present Costa Rica DFS’ approach to forensic management. To highlight the aspects of why their approach is successful, the workshop will feature a review of DFS’ achievement of accreditation, Lean Six Sigma process improvement project, establishment of the Project Management Office, and the development of a change management-oriented culture. It will also address ways they expand the reach of their impact by participation in regional and international efforts such as the ICITAP Forensic Leadership Academy and Iberoamerican Academy of Criminalistics and Forensic Studies (AICEF).

Participants will be introduced to how one can assess forensic results given activity level propositions. That will allow them to take into consideration aspects such as transfer, persistence, recovery and background. Based on real cases, participants will assign the value of the results and will be introduced to the use of Bayesian networks. Working across disciplines will allow them to understand that all types of trace evidence obey to the same interpretation principles and that the difference lies in the data used to inform our conclusions. One will also explore how to manage cases when experimental data are limited.

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the factors (i.e., transfer, persistence, recovery, background) that one needs to account for when assessing transfer evidence.
• Identify the essential features that an interpretation framework should offer to account for these factors.
• Implement this framework in different forensic evidence types (GSR, glass, fibres, DNA, drugs on money, etc.)
• Evaluate case results using formal expressions of evidential value (i.e., likelihood ratio formulae)
• Demonstrate how Bayesian networks can replicate value of evidence formulae and help manage more complex cases.
• Be able to justify reported conclusions.

Motivation
Forensic Science has seen an increasing use of the logical approach (or likelihood ratio approach) to the interpretation of forensic findings, and it is no different in the field of Forensic Handwriting Examination (FHE). The logical approach is especially relevant when interpreting findings of comparative examinations, when the issue at hand is the source of a trace. Under this paradigm, the role of the forensic scientist is to evaluate the strength of the scientific evidence in support for a given proposition against the alternative proposition. ENFSI and ANZPAA/NIFS have already published guidelines on evaluative reporting, and the third version of the Modular Forensic Handwriting Method, due to be published this year, has embraced the logical approach. Thus, forensic handwriting examiners need, at a minimum, be aware of the theory behind the logical approach, its application to handwriting examination, and the tools available to deal with the uncertainties involved in this kind of examination.

Objective
The objective of this course is to introduce students to Bayesian networks, and to provide a hands-on training on the application of this tool in forensic handwriting examination.

Contents
The course will be based on the relevant literature and will stimulate the students to reflect and discuss the reasoning involved in the interpretation of forensic findings in different handwriting examination scenarios.
The in-person training will last two full days (total of 16 hours), and will be divided in four sessions: (1) Bayesian networks theory, (2) introduction and exercises with the software Hugin Lite demo, (3) and (4) applications to FHE.
For those students unfamiliar with the logical approach, online training will be provided in the months prior to the event, with no additional cost. The online, preparatory training will cover the pre-requisites for the in-person training: introduction to probability theory and its applications to evidence evaluation, the three principles of evidence interpretation, evaluative reporting.

Benefits
The successful students of this course will be able to:
– use Bayesian networks to model inferential problems encountered in FHE casework;
– develop insights regarding lacking information or data when (pre-)assessing  a case;
– evaluate examination findings in a transparent and coherent manner;
– present, discuss, and review their reasoning more clearly.

In recent years, the accuracy of forensic sciences has been the subject of increased study, scrutiny, and commentary within the legal system and forensic science literature. Human factors analysis can be used to advance our understanding of the true nature of errors in complex work settings. Research in this area has identified factors that contribute to inefficiencies and quantified the effects of human and organizational factors on performance of critical tasks. The forensic science community can benefit from the application of the substantial body of human factors research to reduce the likelihood and consequences of human error in the scientific interpretation of evidence.

To assist the forensic community in this effort, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST’s) Special Programs Office partnered to assemble a series of Expert Working Groups (EWGs) to examine human factors in forensic analyses and propose strategies to reduce the likelihood of error in forensic practice. To date, these EWGs have contributed human factors knowledge to three forensic disciplines including latent print comparison, forensic handwriting examination, and forensic DNA interpretation.

In this workshop, we will discuss and compare recommendations from these three significant reports.

*This workshop was previously titled: Recommendations from the National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ’s) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST’s) Expert Working Group Series in Latent Print Comparison, Handwriting Examination, and DNA Interpretation

Communicating forensic science and statistical weight is an essential aspect of the criminal justice process for any case involving forensic evidence. There are substantial challenges for scientists within the courtroom environment, including the interrogative structure of testimony, as well as the varied audiences, specialized language and adversarial narratives.

This workshop will address those challenges using research-driven communication principles to help scientists convey nuanced data interpretation. The Alda Method is a unique communication training technique that blends improvisational theater exercises with audience-focused message-design strategies. Driven by the adaptability and active listening at the core of improvisation and the empathy and connection prescribed by social science research, the Alda Method provides strategic approaches for communicating science to non-expert audiences by prioritizing their engagement and comprehension experience.

Principles of centering your audience and being empathic and flexible as a forensic science communicator are fundamental as participants learn specific skills like analogy building, active listening, language adjustment, and engaging with challenging questions. Participants will be actively involved in the exercises, including peer feedback, iterative mock testimony and group skill development.

This workshop has been developed as a collaboration between the Leverhulme Research Center for Forensic Science and the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science.

Steganography is the art and science of hidden communication, allowing to send sensitive or illegal data in such a way that only the intended recipient knows about the existence of the secret data and therefore is able to extract and utilize it. The general concept of steganography is based on embedding the “secret” (or illegal) data within non-suspicious looking “cover” data and thus creating a so-called “stego file”. This is done in such a way that it is not possible to easily “see” whether or not embedded secret data is present.

Although steganography has already been used in the ancient Roman and Greek empire, its full power has only been unleashed by utilizing digital technology.For example, you can easily hide image files illustrating sensitive or illegal content (e.g. military strategic information or child sexual abuse material) in a larger image, video or audio file. There are numerous cases proving that steganography has been used in the “real digital world” for espionage as well as for criminal purposes: Al-Qaeda used steganographic techniques during the planning phase of the 9/11 attacks, which killed about 3000 people in 2001.

In 2002, “Shadowz Brotherhood”, an internet ring for sharing child pornography images and videos, has been identified to utilize steganography to hide images of child abuse within innocent cover files. The US Department of Justice revealed in 2010, that a group of Russian spies in the USA was using steganography to send secret information embedded in cover files via the internet. Depending on the steganography tool used, no or only very little digital traces or hints can be identified in the resulting stego file, which might indicate the existence of embedded additional data. To further support the quality of the embedding, steganography is usually combined with encryption techniques to improve the statistics of the payload and therefore the inconspicuousness of the embedding.

In the first part of the workshop a general introduction will be given, explaining how steganography and the detection of hidden content works. The second part is based on working with real stego files: how can they be produced and how hard it may be to detect them. We will be working hands-on with sample stego files to show what real stego data looks like and how hard it may get to identify and extract the embedded payload.

Depending on our progress there might even be a small “capture-the-flag” challenge, where participants can try to use their new skills to identify some more stego files and extract the embedded payload. Although you will be able to follow most of the workshop without a computer, we encourage you to bring a laptop with an installed docker platform to get the maximum benefit from the practical part of the workshop.

Please note, that the surplus of the workshop fees will be donated to a charity organization, which provides humanitarian support for children and their families in Ukraine.

The popularity of recreational diving using SCUBA (Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) has increased dramatically over the past several decades. Estimates place the number of active recreational divers in the world at between 6 and 9 million. Popular dive sites are located in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, Caribbean, South Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, and other locations worldwide. Diving-related fatalities, while fortunately uncommon, are not rare events (average of 20/year in Australia and 70 to 80/year in North America). These fatalities challenge the investigators and pathologists who must investigate and certify these deaths. Recreational diving fatalities are often litigated in civil court. This workshop is designed for pathologists, death investigators, attorneys, and law enforcement personnel who may be tasked with investigating a SCUBA diving accident or fatality.

The workshop will include presentations on diving physiology, the pathophysiology of diving accidents, including the pathophysiology of drowning, epidemiology, investigative guidelines and procedures, autopsy protocol recommendations for diving deaths, and hazardous marine life. Numerous cases will be presented and there will be a hands-on portion where participants can become familiar with the equipment used by recreational divers, along with recommendations on having the equipment evaluated. Participants will gain competence and confidence in investigating diving deaths.

This full day (8 hour) workshop focuses on using the likelihood ratio (LR) in fingerprint casework.  We will explore different methods for generating LRs, including both verbal LRs and quantitative LRs from a statistical model.  We will see how these apply to various types of fingerprint comparisons.  We have practical exercises that include examples of identification, inconclusive, and cases where there is correspondence, but insufficient for the expert to conclude an identification or an exclusion.  Participants will review different methods of reporting using expanded verbal conclusion scales.  Lastly, we will explore some mock testimony scenarios based on the examples discussed throughout the workshop.

The course is aimed at practitioner fingerprint experts or supervisors/quality managers of fingerprint units.  Other pattern specialists, such as footwear, firearms, handwriting experts are welcome, but the exercises are specific examples for fingerprint experts, but the concepts, reporting, and testimony are universally applicable across forensic disciplines.

In today’s interconnected world, crime has become more digitized and globalized, blending physical and digital realms. Criminals and terrorists now have easier access to potential targets and funding. To combat this, there is a greater focus on prevention and disruption, which has led to changes in offense categories, police powers, and the prevalence of multi-agency partnerships.

However, traditional forensic science models are outdated and ill-suited to this evolving landscape, risking irrelevancy. Forensics should not only be viewed as linear, segregated, and discipline-specific but should also contribute to prevention and disruption outcomes. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) Forensics has transformed its operating model to address these challenges, increasing its impact and value proposition.

This workshop will explore how AFP Forensics developed and implemented its transdisciplinary forensic operating model. It will address the importance of understanding the broader strategic and operational environment in order to design a model to maximise relevance, impact and trust. It will analyse the impact on daily operations and assess future opportunities.

Participants will be provided with an opportunity learn from the AFP Forensics experience and explore how this model could be applied to their organizations.

Growing application of biogeographical ancestry (BGA) analysis in forensic casework has highlighted the impact of BGA as an investigative tool to assist identification of unknown DNA donors. With this there is need for education on classifier limitations and common misconceptions about true reference populations. Workshop participants will see first-hand the weaknesses and strengths of various BGA analysis methods through worked examples using published population data and ancestry-informative SNP panels.

A hands-on component is included where participants will get the opportunity to prepare and analyse mock data by selecting appropriate reference populations, marker panels, and classifier to run using the Structure Software, Snipper webtool, and the Forensic Resource/Reference On Genetics – knowledge base (FROG-kb). A discussion on the prediction outcome and interpretation will then follow.

This workshop is ideal for anyone with a general understanding of basic biological concepts and an interest in determining biogeographic and/or phenotypic information from genotype data using publicly available resources. Participants will need to bring a laptop for the hands-on component (ideally one with administrator rights for software installation).

Human taphonomic facilities (HTFs) have been established worldwide to conduct multidisciplinary human decomposition research in relevant contexts to aid death investigations. In addition to experimental research, HTFs provide the unique infrastructure, resources and governance required to host simulated disaster scenarios using human cadavers.

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS)-led Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research (AFTER) is the only HTF in Australia. AFTER opened in 2016 and has received over 100 body donations for research and training purposes to date. The objective of this workshop is to provide forensic practitioners and researchers with an overview of AFTER’s amenities and activities. During the workshop the participants will observe and learn about current research and training activities, and their educational and operational outcomes. Future plans for site and activity expansion will also be discussed.

The one day workshop will involve a half-day educational visit to the AFTER site led by the AFTER management team, followed by a half-day research forum at the UTS. Presentations will be given by current AFTER users and interactive discussions will be facilitated with participants to identify opportunities for multijurisdictional, multiagency and multidisciplinary research collaborations and capability/capacity building training at a national and international level.

Please complete the below details if you would like to register your interest in the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research (AFTER) Educational Visit and Research Forum for Forensic Practitioners and Researchers workshop. Additionally, please email your CV to after@uts.edu.au. Any approved delegates will be provided with a link to register and payment for the workshop.

This workshop will introduce a web-based training platform that was developed for fibre and hair experts within the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) to supplement the member laboratories’ internal training schemes with a cost-effective, unified training concept.

The scope of this expandable virtual training environment currently covers the key processes for recovery, handling, examination as well as interpretation and reporting of textile and hair evidence.

To begin the workshop, we will give an overview of how the project was initially conceived, and outline the training challenges that the project sought to address. We will then discuss how the concept was planned and delivered over a three-year pan-European collaboration.

In a hands-on session, the participants will actively experience this e-learning environment with the guidance of the organizers by exploring on-line courses and other training tools and activities.

Finally, we will interactively discuss plans for the future of this e-learning, share learning points and propose how this model could be implemented in other forensic disciplines.

Target audience:

– forensic scientists and members of academia considering to develop an e-learning concept
– microtraces, fibre and hair practitioners aiming to refresh or complete their knowledge in specific areas of fibre/hair analysis

This workshop concludes the online interpretation course dedicated to approaching and reporting cases when the issue regards transfer of DNA. It closes a year-long on-demand online course with Australian and New Zealand DNA specialists.

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Better prepared to defend their conclusions in court
2. Be able to recognise when and justify why reporting given activity level propositions is both necessary and of value.
3. Discuss implementation challenges and quality assurance strategies.

Participants will be asked to produce a statement pertaining to an example drawn from real casework of their practice. The evaluation of their results, their associated Bayesian network models and template conclusions will be reviewed and discussed by the course team. A moot court exercise will allow participants to learn how to answer challenges that they may encounter in court. Discussions on how to implement ARTE (Assessing and Reporting Transfer Evidence) in the laboratory will allow participants to articulate the future steps in both research and practice that are necessary to provide the best value to the judicial system.

Forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) has rapidly emerged as a powerful tool for forensic identification. Although hundreds of cold cases in the US have been resolved using FIGG, careful consideration must be given when adapting its use to the legal, ethical, and privacy requirements unique to Australia.
Part I of the workshop is conducted FIGG leaders in Australia and the US. It informs participants of the FIGG process and addresses issues specific to Australia. It includes discussions on scientific, operational, privacy, ethical, and legal considerations, FIGG expertise, and quality management requirements relevant to the application of FIGG in Australia. The workshop is suitable for forensic scientists, investigators, intelligence analysts, and legal experts.

Part I – History, practical realization, and effectiveness of FGG, with a discussion of scientific, operational, ethical, and legal considerations that are relevant to the implementation of F/IGG in an Australian context.

Part I is not mandatory, but highly recommended for Part II attendees.

Forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) has rapidly emerged as a powerful tool for forensic identification. Although hundreds of cold cases in the US have been resolved using FIGG, careful consideration must be given when adapting its use to the legal, ethical, and privacy requirements unique to Australia.

Part II – Hands-on approach through guided exercises and the application of FGG to a simulated case. Part II will be limited to 30 participants. Part II of the workshop is conducted FIGG leaders in Australia and the US. The workshop is suitable for forensic scientists, investigators, intelligence analysts, and legal experts.

Forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) has rapidly emerged as a powerful tool for forensic identification. Although hundreds of cold cases in the US have been resolved using FIGG, careful consideration must be given when adapting its use to the legal, ethical, and privacy requirements unique to Australia.

Parts I and II of the workshop are conducted FIGG leaders in Australia and the US. They informs participants of the FIGG process and addresses issues specific to Australia. Part I includes discussions on scientific, operational, privacy, ethical, and legal considerations, FIGG expertise, and quality management requirements relevant to the application of FIGG in Australia.

Part II consists of a hands-on approach through guided exercises and the application of FGG to a simulated case. Part II will be limited to 30 participants. The workshop is suitable for forensic scientists, investigators, intelligence analysts, and legal experts

With advances in the technology and digital world, child exploitation has become an epidemic. Where traditional forensic and biometric evidence types are not available, digital forensic evidence has now become the main evidence type for investigations and examinations. In this ‘new’ digital age, facial images are playing a critical part in the identification of both offenders and victims.

The Australian Federal Police, Facial Identification team have developed a targeted training program for examining facial images of children. Through the expert knowledge of its examiners in facial image comparison, anatomy and physiology, craniofacial growth development and ageing; this training program was developed to assist examiners to complete casework effectively and also victim identification specialists to perform basic assessments of children for further examination.

This ½ day program content includes; anatomy and physiology, features for comparison, ageing and stability, siblings/families. There is also practical cases and exercises for comparison’

Facial Recognition (FR) is one of the most controversial biometric and forensic disciplines in use around the world today. Much of this controversy is based on old research, misinformation and improper utilization of the technology and supporting services. The key to improving the use and effectiveness of FR systems is ensuring that experienced and well-trained personnel are part of the enterprise.

Research shows that accurate algorithms combined with highly qualified examiners/analysts reduce the error rate for examination decisions to near zero. With the theme “where to from here?” for the 23rd Meeting of the IAFS, this four-hour workshop will improve the understanding and validate the legitimacy of Facial Recognition and Facial Identification as a viable forensic discipline.

This workshop will provide a high-level overview of the Facial Identification Discipline. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to “test” their skills with a small selection of feature and facial comparison sets as well as interact with a skilled instructor to answer questions during the class.

Upon completion of this workshop, participants new to or interested in the facial identification discipline will have a better understanding of the challenges and the benefits of a facial recognition enterprise for their laboratory or agency.

The prolific nature of drug toxicity-related deaths continues to tear apart the social fabric of societies worldwide. In the United States, overdoses are the leading cause of non-natural deaths and directly affect the caseloads of medicolegal and forensic agencies. The combination of the dramatic increase in synthetic opioid usage, such as fentanyl, and the pandemic has dropped life expectancy in the U.S. to its lowest level in 25 years. Even with the documented dramatic increase in drug toxicity-related deaths, the number of deaths is believed to be grossly under-reported due to the lack of recognition, inadequate toxicology testing, and inappropriate death certification.

The workshop, while originating from the United States, is applicable to practices worldwide and will focus on the investigative and forensic pathology aspects of potential drug toxicity-related deaths. The presentation will navigate a potential drug toxicity-related death from the time of notification through the scene investigation, postmortem examination, death certification, and review by a specified fatality team. Attendees will gain proficiency in recognizing and investigating drug-related deaths, an expertise that every medical examiner, coroner, and law enforcement establishment will find valuable.

The workshop is supported by funding from the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners.

This workshop will introduce participants to the core working principles of microspectrophotometers, including spectroscopic techniques and microspectrophotometers design, in order to provide a strong foundation for the critical analysis of obtained spectra.

Basic analysis and accepted workflows for standard trace evidence samples will be presented, including standard analytical practices for using microspectrophotometers on fibers, paints, documents, and glass.

Guidelines for spectral interpretation will also be presented with example spectra used for application of these guidelines and to facilitate discussion among participants.

After this workshop, attendees will have learned the operating principles of microspectrophotometers, standard applications for microspectrophotometers in trace evidence, key characteristics of unique situations where microspectrophotometers can be applied, and how to analyze and compare the measured spectra.

Thematic area – Technological advances and challenges in Post-mortem interval (PMI)

1. Classical methods estimating post-mortem interval (90 minutes): Presented by Dr. Y. S. Bansal

The most significant characteristic feature during an autopsy is the post mortem interval (PMI). Decades of research has not yet provided an accurate PMI measurement method that can be used in all circumstances. The traditional approaches, which were based on physical discoveries such as algor mortis, rigor mortis, decomposition changes etc, are very subjective and are influenced by a variety of circumstances. However, these methods are still forming the corner stone in forensic investigations. The first session of the workshop would give insights upon the following learning objectives-

• The attendees will learn about the advantages and disadvantages of classical methods of PMI estimation.
• The significance of classical methods of PMI in real-time scenarios.
• Case studies utilizing classical methods of PMI estimation will be discussed
• Feedback and quizzing 

1. Proteomics in post-mortem interval- promising role (90 minutes): Presented by Dr. Puneet Setia

Determination of PMI in a succinct and objective way has always been a challenge. New approaches involving estimation of various cellular proteins like autophagy proteins, muscle proteins etc using different methods like western blot or ELISA have been explored and look promising. The second session of the workshop would give insights upon the following learning objectives-

• The attendees will learn about role of proteomics in PMI estimation
• The challenges faced in implementing proteomics in PMI estimation
• Case studies utilizing proteomic methods of PMI estimation will be discussed
• The role of animal studies and their relative advantages and disadvantages in emulating them in real life situation will be discussed
• The speaker will be detailing about their experience of using proteomics as a useful tool in PMI estimation
• There will be an open discussion regarding the way the attendees can use these methods in their workplaces for PMI estimation
• Feedback and quizzing 

1. Genomics in post-mortem interval-way ahead (90 minutes): Presented by Dr. Purvi Purohit

Determination of PMI seems illusive and a very subjective task for forensic specialists owing to the lack of robustness of the methods. With advances in molecular biology techniques, their application in forensics has increased tremendously, right from identification by DNA finger printing to now in estimation of PMI. Currently thanatobiology, thanatomicrobiome have shown great promise in this field. But there are challenges to this field as well. The attendees will learn about recent advances in molecular biology for determining PMI

• The attendees will learn about role of genomics in PMI estimation
• The role of animal studies and their relative advantages and disadvantages in emulating them in real life situation will be discussed
• The speaker will be detailing about their experience of using genomics as a useful tool in PMI estimation
• The challenges faced in implementing genomics in PMI estimation
• Case studies utilizing genomic methods of PMI estimation will be discussed
• Feedback and quizzing

Practical aspects of health care of suspects and complainants, both adult and children, who may have mental health and/or substance abuse issues.  The workshop will review fitness to consent to forensic procedures, fitness for interview, fitness to detain, misleading interviews and the potential for miscarriages of justice.

The workshop will be of relevance to lawyers, police, and physicians (forensic, paediatric, ED, custodial).

The aim of this workshop is to familiarise practitioners with cognitive science issues that impact their decision-making, and develop strategies to mitigate their effects. Over the last decade, the forensic sciences have begun to engage with issues relating to human decision-making. Initial interest centred on cognitive biases in forensic practitioners, but has since expanded to include multiple aspects of human cognition that impact the accuracy of decisions made by forensic scientists and how forensic science evidence is interpreted by others. Importantly, many of these issues are an inevitable and unavoidable part of simply being human. Luckily, understanding more about how the human mind works allows us to design simple yet effective ways to mitigate the risks of these issues and safeguard human decision-making in the forensic sciences. Our Thinking Forensics Training presents ’10 things forensic scientists should know about cognitive science’ in a series of fun and interactive activities. We are firm believers that trainees should experience each of our ‘10 things’ for themselves, rather than having us tell them. This approach results in engaging and thoughtful discussion around each ‘thing’, where practitioners share their own unique experiences with the group and help each other design practical strategies to mitigate risk in their specific roles. The Thinking Forensics Training is based on one of our peer-reviewed publications with an international and inter-disciplinary team of cognitive scientists, lawyers and forensic scientists.