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The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science works to strengthen the nation’s use of forensic science by facilitating the development of scientifically sound forensic science standards and by promoting the adoption of those standards by the forensic science community. OSAC has over 550 members and 250 affiliates that work together to develop and evaluate forensic science standards via a transparent, consensus-based process that allows for participation and comment by all stakeholders.
This event will feature presentations from the Chairs of the five Scientific Area Committees (SAC), three Resource Committees, Statistics Task Group, and Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB). Each presenter will describe their OSAC unit’s activities including the latest standards under development, research gaps identified, challenges being addressed, and priorities for 2018. The public will be offered an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback after each presentation. All presentations and questions from the audience will be webcast live and archived for future on-demand viewing.
TUESDAY - FEBRUARY 20
8:00 AM – 8:15 AM: Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB) Update
Steve Johnson, Chair, FSSB
PPT
8:15 AM – 8:30 AM: How Should Standards Minimize the “B-word” (Bias) in Forensic Science
William Thompson, Chair, Human Factors Committee
PPT
8:30 AM – 8:45 AM: The Attorneys, Love ‘em or Hate ‘em, You Can’t (should not) Do Standards Without ‘em
Chris Plourd, Chair, Legal Resource Committee
PPT
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM: The Yellow Brick Road to Standards Development
Karen Reczek, Chair, Quality Infrastructure Committee
PPT
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM: Statistics is Never Having to Say You’re Certain
Karen Kafadar, Chair, Statistics Task Group
PPT
9:15 AM – 9:30 AM: BREAK
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: How Good Standards Can Prevent DNA from Becoming a 4-Letter Word
(including activities from the Biological Methods, Biological Data Interpretation and Reporting, and the Wildlife Forensics Subcommittees)
Kris Cano, Vice Chair, Biology/DNA SAC
PPT
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM: BREAK
10:45 AM – 12:15 PM: Crime Scene – Death, Crime Scenes, and OSAC
(including activities from the Anthropology, Crime Scene Investigation, Disaster Victim Identification, Dogs and Sensors, Fire and Explosion Investigation, Medicolegal Death Investigation, and Odontology Subcommittees)
Greg Davis, Chair, Crime Scene/Death Investigation SAC
PPT
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM: BREAK
1:15 PM – 2:30 PM: Individualizations, Identifications, Associations, OH MY!!!
(including activities from the Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, Firearms and Toolmarks, Footwear and Tire, Forensic Document Examination, and Friction Ridge Subcommittees)
Melissa Gische, Chair, Physics/Pattern Interpretation SAC
PPT
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM: BREAK
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM: Is Digital & Multimedia Science Really “Forensic Science”?
(including activities from Digital Evidence, Facial Identification, Speaker Recognition, and Video/Imaging Technology and Analysis Subcommittees)
Richard Vorder Bruegge, Chair, Digital/Multimedia SAC
PPT
3:45 PM – 4:00 PM: BREAK
4:00 PM – 5:15 PM: Finding Meaning Through Forensic Chemistry - A Focus on the Progress Within the Chemistry/Instrumental Analysis SAC
(including activities from the Fire Debris & Explosives, Geological Materials, Gunshot Residue, Materials (Trace), Seized Drugs, and Toxicology Subcommittees)
Jose Almirall, Chair, Chemistry/Instrumental Analysis SAC
PPT
5:15 PM ADJOURN
Sheraton Seattle Hotel
1400 6th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101