NIST & OSAC at AAFS 2026

The 78th Annual American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Scientific Conference will be held February 9-14, 2026, in New Orleans, LA. Visit us at booth #517 to learn more about NIST’s Forensic Science Program, including our foundational studies, research, and standards efforts. Check out these presentations from NIST staff*, along with these other standards-related talks.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9

• 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Workshop 13 | From General Knowledge to Case-Specific Insights: Navigating the Complexities of Trace and DNA Transfer, Persistence, Prevalence, and Recovery (TPPR) in Forensic Science Opinions*
• 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Workshop 15 | Building Scientific Confidence Through Validation of Forensic Methods*

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10

• 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Workshop 26 | Advancing the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Forensic Science: Use Cases, Innovation Pathways, and a Procurement Framework*
• 10:15 – 10:35 a.m. | Young Forensic Scientist Forum (S1) | Using Forensic Science Standards to Increase Your Confidence and Competence*

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11

• 7:15 – 8:15 a.m. | Case Break Session (CB3) | Reducing Communication Barriers in the Use of NIST-OSAC Verbal Scales: Focus on Reporting Glass Associations
• 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Poster Session (B24) | MixMaSTR: A Software Package for Designing and Interpreting Forensic DNA Validation Studies*

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12

• 8:15 – 8:35 a.m. | Digital & Multimedia Sciences Session (C4) | Facial Identification: Standardization, Certification, and Beyond
• 9:00 – 9:15 a.m. | Criminalistics Session (B92) | A Method Development for Ultraviolet Absorbance and Fluorescence Detection of Psilocybin and Psilocin Following Liquid Chromatographic Separation*
• 9:45 – 10:15 a.m. | Toxicology Session (L39) | An Update on Standards Development Activities in Forensic Toxicology
• 9:50 – 11:00 a.m. | Odontology Session (H8) | Shaping the Future of Forensic Odontology Through Standardization
• 10:20 – 10:40 a.m. | General Session (F47) | Standards Development Activities in Medicolegal Death Investigation, Including Disaster Victim Identification
• 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Jurisprudence Session (G11) | Movement Toward Greater Clarity and Transparency in Firearms Comparison Reporting in Texas: A NIST Collaboration*
• 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Poster Session (B30) | The Development of a Validation and Implementation Package for the Quantification of Several Drugs by LC/MS/MS*
• 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Poster Session (B45) | The Validation of an LC-PDA Method for the Quantitative Analysis of Cannabinoids in Homemade and Commercial Gummies*
• 1:00 – 1:15 p.m. | Criminalistics Session (B97) | Standards Development Activities in Trace Materials* 
• 1:15 – 1:45 p.m. | Criminalistics Session (B75) | Highlights and Lessons From the 2025 INTERPOL DNA Review*
• 1:20 – 1:40 p.m. | Questioned Documents Session (K12) | An Update on Standards Development Activities Related to Forensic Document Examination
• 1:45 – 2:00 p.m. | Criminalistics Session (B76) | Standards Development Activities in Human Forensic Biology 
• 2:00 – 2:20 p.m. | Questioned Documents Session (K14) | A Proposal for a Forensic Signature Examination Standard
• 2:20 – 3:00 p.m. | Questioned Documents Session (K15) | Note Taking Requirements for New FDE Standards…That Seems Like a Lot
• 3:00 – 3:20 p.m. | Pathology/Biology Session (I77) | Standards Development Activities in Medicolegal Death Investigation and Forensic Pathology
• 4:00 – 4:20 p.m. | General Session (F58) | From Scanner to Courtroom: Best Practice Standards for Postmortem Computed Tomography
• 4:45 – 5:00 p.m. | Criminalistics Session (B109) | Standards Development Activities Related to Friction Ridge Examination
• 5:45 – 6:00 p.m. | Criminalistics Session (B114) | OSAC/ASB Standards Development Activities in Firearms and Toolmark Examination

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13

• 8:30 – 8:45 a.m. | Criminalistics Session (B180) | Validation in Forensic Science: Guiding Principles for the Collection and Use of Validation Data*
• 8:40 – 9:00 a.m. | General Session (F121) | Forensic Foundations Revisited: Insights from NIST’s Foundation Studies Program*
• 8:45 – 9:00 a.m. | Criminalistics Session (B159) | Why Mutation Models Matter: Enhancing Accuracy in Relationship Testing*
• 9:00 – 9:15 a.m. | Anthropology Session (A163) | Standards Development in Forensic Anthropology: Progress and Updates from the OSAC and ASB
• 9:00 – 9:20 a.m. | General Session (F122) | Standards Synergy: Collaborate to Elevate*
• 9:40 – 10:00 a.m. | General Session (F103) | A Study on Best Practices in Evidence Management: A Preview of the NIST/NIJ Evidence Management Report*
• 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. | Criminalistics Session (B186) | The Three Stages of Standards Acceptance: A Groundhog Day’s Guide to Implementation*
• 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | General Session (F93) | Judicial Gatekeeping: The Use of Scientific Standards and Forensic Expert Qualification in Oklahoma
• 1:00 – 1:15 p.m. | Anthropology Session (A150) | Developing Evidence-Based Approaches for Taphonomic Histories: A Call for Communication Across the Disciplinary Divide*
• 1:45 – 2:00 | Anthropology Session (A153) | Taphonomic Analyses of Hair: From Postmortem Root Banding to Environmental Degradation*
• 1:45 – 2:00 p.m. | Criminalistics Session (B190) | Recent Trends in Fentanyl Adulteration: Results From the Near Real-Time Drug Checking RaDAR Program*
• 3:30 – 3:45 p.m. (Criminalistics Session (B196) | From Concept to Consensus: Advancing Standards for Dogs and Sensors in Detection Applications
• 4:00 – 4:20 p.m. | General Session (F136) | Forensic Ethics in Practice: Bridging Global Standards, Skills, and Moral Responsibility
• 4:10 – 4:40 | Jurisprudence Session (G32) | Beyond the Lab Coat: Understanding ISO 21043’s Reach*
• 5:15 – 5:30 p.m. | Criminalistics Session (B203) | Standards Development Activities Related to Ignitable Liquids, Explosives, and Gunshot Residue