FORENSICS@NIST 2022 Agenda

The workshop topics focus on NIST forensic DNA reference materials.  Current and historical forensic DNA reference materials will be used to illustrate their role in: establishing traceability, harmonizing data exchange, commercial development of testing kits, and supporting quality systems.   The material procurement, physical characterization, and informed consent aspects of reference material development will be addressed. Examples of how materials are used will be presented by practitioners. 

This workshop will include presentations from NIST researchers and forensic scientists from outside of NIST. Session 1 presenters will provide an overview of the current state of cannabis testing in forensic laboratories moving from qualitative to quantitative measurements. Speakers will provide insight on modifications/issues encountered, while also providing insight into current and future needs. Session 2 presenters will focus on laboratory quality assurance in forensic laboratories and the Cannabis Laboratory Quality Assurance Program. The workshop will include a live round table discussion for the presenters to answer questions and exchange ideas with the audience. 

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), through its Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC), has been working with practitioners in various forensic science disciplines to produce process maps that identify key decision points in the forensic evidence examination process. Process mapping visually represents the critical steps and decision points of a workflow, allowing others to understand a process and its components more clearly, and revealing areas of improvement.

These process maps are intended to be used to help improve efficiencies while reducing errors, highlight gaps where further research or standardization would be beneficial, facilitate root cause analyses, and assist with training new investigators. It may also be used by laboratory managers to better understand how their protocols compare with those of other laboratories and provide a framework for developing standard operating procedures, best practice documents, and quality assurance measures.

In this workshop, we will discuss the development process and guide the participants through the steps involved in three forensic disciplines: latent print examination, handwriting examination, and firearms examination.

At the end of the workshop, participants will understand the purpose and value of process mapping, how process maps can be used to inform contextual information management and cognitive bias reduction strategies, and how they can aid in the standardization of forensic processes and terminology.

Mass spectrometry is one of the most commonly employed analytical tools in forensic chemistry disciplines. While many users employ large mass spectral databases for interpretation, there are use cases where more in-depth analysis is required (e.g. new psychoactive substances that are not present in a database). This workshop will provide attendees with tips and tricks for mass spectral interpretation as well as demonstrate some of the tools that are available from NIST to further assist chemists in interpreting spectra. This workshop will emphasize data obtained from gas chromatography electron ionization mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS), but ambient ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry data will also be discussed. 

This workshop aims to provide forensic practitioners, laboratory managers, legal personnel, and researchers with knowledge of emerging tools and technologies for forensic firearm and toolmark analysis. Training topics include the theory behind different styles of microscopes for measuring three-dimensional (3D) toolmark topography, measurement quality assurance, data processing methods, quantitative toolmark similarity metrics, statistical frameworks for estimating the strength of the evidence, and virtual comparison microscopy. Participants will learn about the advantages and current limitations of these emerging technologies, and about strategies for their implementation in casework.