OSAC's Wildlife Forensic Biology Subcommittee Develops Process Map

The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science’s Wildlife Forensic Biology Subcommittee has developed a process map that captures the decision-making and process flow details most frequently encountered in wildlife forensic biology.

Process mapping is used to visually represent a workflow's critical steps and decision points. Using standard symbols to describe each element in the process (e.g., inputs, outputs, decisions, and steps) allows others to understand a process and its components more easily and clearly than long-form documentation. The Wildlife Forensic Biology Process Map, which is intended to reflect current practices, provides a visual description of the steps most frequently encountered in the wildlife forensic biology process, such as the analysis and comparison of wildlife evidence, including species identification, sex determination, geographic origin, and familial relationship. 

“This map illustrates the complex and varied field of wildlife forensics for practitioners, as well as the wider forensic community alike. Practitioners can use this map as a tool to guide development of training programs and to expand their testing capabilities,” said Christina Lindquist, Chair of OSAC’s Wildlife Forensic Biology Subcommittee.

In addition to describing the current state of wildlife forensic biology, the process map can also help improve efficiencies in the examination process, highlight gaps where further research or standardization would be beneficial, and assist with training new practitioners. It may also be used to develop specific policies and identify best practices.

“Along with being a valuable resource for practitioners, students can also use the Wildlife Forensic Biology Process Map to recognize just how many pathways there are to becoming involved in the field. And our OSAC Wildlife Forensic Biology Subcommittee can use this tool to identify areas of the field that could benefit from standards development,” Lindquist said.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which is working to strengthen the practice of forensic science through research and improved standards, facilitated the development of this process map through a collaboration between the NIST Forensic Science Research Program and OSAC’s Wildlife Forensic Biology Subcommittee. Additional process maps have been produced in the areas of DNA, fire and explosion investigation, firearms examinations, footwear & tire examinations,  friction ridge examinations, seized drugs, and speaker recognition.